California raises smoking age to 21

[DrScholl]

I can see a Republican state lowering the smoking age to increase profits for tobacco. That would receive much praise.

It's not really a big deal, the drinking age is 21, so it's not like this really represents a huge restriction on freedom.

[DrScholl]

And just an FYI, there were Republicans that voted in favor of this bill, so it's not like this was really a party line vote.

[DrScholl]

I think it would have been more effective to pass a law that bans people from suing tobacco companies for getting lung cancer, even though said people knew that smoking was unhealthy.

In addition to that, a law that bars smokers from qualifying for state funded health benefits would have been a good choice as well.

[DrScholl]

The idea that the right to smoke tobacco is some great PRIVILEGE OF ADULTHOOD that must be granted with voting rights and everything else is a joke, right? This is why libertarianism is stupid. Not everything is some inalienable right.

Libertarians are interesting people.