Legislation has been introduced to prohibit sale of tobacco and electronic cigarettes and related materials to people younger than 21, except those in the military.

Some other states have moved in this direction. My initial response is skepticism, but who knows? It is at least a wedge against the Big Tobacco giveaway embodied in legislation introduced by Rep. Andy Davis and Sen. Jonathan Dismang. It is ostensibly a financing mechanism for a UAMS cancer institute, but it is a Trojan horse of tobacco protectionism, including pre-emption of local controls (at least one Arkansas city has passed an ordinance stopping sales to those under 21) and preferential tax treatment.

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A group of Democrats have also introduced a bill to meaningfully tax e-cigarettes.