By Bob Katzen

A trio of legislators announced they plan to co-sponsor legislation aimed at eventually ending the sale of all nicotine and tobacco products in the Bay State. Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester) and Reps. Tommy Vitolo (D-Brookline) and Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D-Melrose) said they will file the bill for consideration in the 2025-2026 legislative session.

The proposal will not take away the right to purchase nicotine and tobacco products from anyone who is already legally able to do so. Instead, the measure would prohibit people under 21 who are not currently old enough to legally purchase nicotine and tobacco products, to ever be lawfully able to purchase these products in Massachusetts.

“We all know the devastating health effects of nicotine and tobacco products, especially on our youth who are targeted by Big Tobacco,” said Sen. Lewis. “This bill will save countless lives and create a healthier world for the next generation.”

“This legislation treats everyone fairly,” said Rep. Vitolo. “Those who are not old enough now to obtain nicotine products will never be old enough to buy them in Massachusetts. Those who are old enough today will always be old enough. This problem is going to take a generation to solve, and with this legislation we can solve it, one day at a time.”

“We already have laws that prevent tobacco retailers from selling to anyone under 21 – and they check IDs diligently,” responded Peter Brennan, executive director of the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association. “The current system works. Prohibiting adults from purchasing legal tobacco products in a regulated environment such as local stores is a misguided infringement on adults’ rights and will do nothing to address youth tobacco use.”