LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The legislative session ends Monday night, and many are wondering if the legal age to buy tobacco products and e-cigarettes in Nevada will change.
If passed, the legal age to buy cigarettes would move from 18 to 21.
However, local smoke shops in the Las Vegas valley aren’t worried.
Amanda Dowdy, manager of Smokes Mart in Southwest, recognizing the good that could come and the bad.
“It helps kids stay away from nicotine addiction,” says Dowdy. “The kids that already buy it consistently, they’ll go through illegal ways to get it.”
Shoppers inside the store like Diamond Taylor are of the same mind.
“It may be a good move for some people but to me kids are gonna do what they want to do,” says Taylor.
According to the Southern Nevada Health District, more than 80% of Clark County residents don’t smoke.
But those who do on average will spend over $2,000 a year on cigarettes.
Dowdy says Juuls are a popular choice among the younger smokers that stop by her shop, due to its small size and emits no odor.
It comes at a price though, and Dowdy says there’s other spots in town that will need to make sure they know whose buying.
“Places like gas stations are probably going to be more affected, they are easier to get to, there’s one on every corner.”
Nevada will be added to the list of 14 other states who have also raised the age as well, if passed.
