Governor Christie Enacts Legislation That Will Protect Youth from Deadly Addiction and Disease

TRENTON, NJ – July 21, 2017 – Governor Chris Christie has signed into law a measure that prohibits the sale of tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices to anyone under 21.  The current age requirement is 19. California and Hawaii already have enacted this important public health measure.

Brian Shott, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) New Jersey director of government relations released the following statement.

“We thank Senator Richard Codey and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle for their continued leadership on this issue, and commend Governor Christie for enacting this crucial public health measure. Raising the age for the sale of tobacco products sends a powerful message that New Jersey will protect our young people from the dangers of these products.  Research shows this type of law will significantly reduce smoking rates.

“There are some 11,800 annual adult deaths due to smoking in New Jersey. If a person does not begin smoking at a young age, they are much less likely to ever smoke. Tobacco continues to claim too many lives and is the leading cause of preventable death. This law will not only save lives, but will cut health care costs.

“With this action Governor Christie, the Assembly and the Senate have put New Jersey in the forefront of saving lives.”

For More Info Contact:

Marc Kaplan 

marc.kaplan@cancer,org

(518) 796-1038

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.

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