Starting June 9th, the legal age for purchasing tobacco products in California will be changed from 18 to 21. Another new California law will also raise the age to 21 for the increasingly popular E-cigarette products. With these new restrictions on smoking, it is estimated that tobacco companies will lose somewhere around $250 million in revenue.

Many questions and issues are being raised with these new laws, between both smokers and nonsmokers as well. Some are unhappy with the idea of raising the age to 21 as they feel as if it defeats the purpose of classifying an adult at the age of 18. It will also affect those who are between the ages of 18-21, who have been purchasing cigarettes legally, as some feel like they are having their privelages taken away.

The new smoking and vaping laws in California are really being directed towards young people, and to help prevent adolescent addiction. Electronic cigarettes have been becoming more and more popular for young people in schools, and the new laws aim to make it much more difficult for teenagers to become addicted to vaping, as many of the products do contain nicotine.

Many people are also upset with the new approach to E-cigarettes, as research suggests that it is a much healthier alternative to smoking, and is even used as a method to help quit smoking. The Smoke- Free Alternatives Trade Assn had this to say after the introduction of these new laws: “California took a step backwards today by reclassifying vapor products as tobacco,” the group said in a statement. “Stigmatizing vapor products, which contain no tobacco, and treating them the same as combustible tobacco while actively seeking to economically penalize smokers attempting to switch is counterproductive to public health”.

Supporters of the bills noted that tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., with as many as 34,000 Californians dying each year. It is also important to consider that  90% of tobacco users start before the age of 21, and about 80% first try tobacco before age 18, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Did you notice the haze in the sky last week? Or was it harder for you to breathe? This was because of the wildfires in Northern Minnesota. The fires started around May 6th in the Hoyt Lakes area and burned a total of about 1,000 acres over a six day period. People were evacuated from their homes because of the fire. The cause of the fire is still unknown.

Fire safety is always an important issue but the risks are even higher in the summer months. Many people do not know how important it is to be aware of the rules that the DNR have in place for the different regions in Minnesota. Some people may think they are following the rules, but they usually aren’t.

Spring burning restrictions have been put into place in Minnesota and it is important that people look at these restrictions before they plan to have a campfire or anything of that nature. It is important to look at these rules because if you get caught breaking them, the consequences can be mighty.

If you are wondering where you can find the rules/restrictions, you can visit http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html