Boston Globe | January 1, 2016
Should Massachusetts raise the statewide smoking age to 21?
YES
By: Ruth B. Balser
State representative, Newton Democrat, House vice-chair, Joint Committee on Public Health
I am proud to be one of 56 cosponsors of House Bill 2021, “An Act further regulating the sale of tobacco products to teenagers.” This important public health legislation, filed by my colleague, Representative Paul McMurtry of Dedham, would raise the tobacco purchasing age from 18 to 21 across the state. I am also proud that Newton, the city in which I live and that I represent in the House, is among the approximately 80 Massachusetts communities that have adopted this policy at the municipal level.