McConnell proposes raising the tobacco age to 21

[emailking]

Raise the age you can join the military to 21 and maybe you'll have my ear for this.

[emailking]

This doesn't bother me.

However.

If they raise the age for tobacco usage to 21, then they must also raise the age you're allowed to join the military to 21 as well.  Either that, or keep the age at 18 for both (and alcohol as well).  You shouldn't be allowed to fight and die for your country but not allowed to go buy a pack of cigarettes.

While I admire the intention, this would be terrible for a lot of people who have no plans to go to college after graduating and are looking to join the military for a career out of high school.

That's why I think the age should be 18 for everything. If an 18 year old is mature enough to make the decision to go to war, which I think they probably are, than they are mature enough to drink or smoke.

[emailking]

As an on-and-off smoker since 14, I have no problem with this.

You shouldn't be allowed to fight and die for your country but not allowed to go buy a pack of cigarettes.

One has nothing to do with the other.

Other than logical consistency.

[emailking]

I think it's less authoritarianism and moor just a want for consistency. If you can't buy pot or alcohol until you're 21, it only makes sense to apply it to tabacco as well.

Another way to have consistency would be be to lower the pot and alcohol ages to 18.

Brains are still developing until people reach their early 20's. Alcohol stunts brain development. There are multiple sources for this.

Doesn't mean it should be illegal.

[emailking]

Bro did I ever say that it should? All I’m saying is that 18 for weed and tobacco makes sense while 21 for alcohol makes sense.

I thought by saying it makes sense for the age to be 21 that you were advocating it should be illegal before 21.

Regardless, I don't think it makes sense for the age of legalization to be 21, even if it can stunt brain development. It's bad for your brain at any age.