A new poll says legislation that would raise Washington's smoking age to 21 has more support than keeping the legal age to buy tobacco at 18.
A survey by independent pollster Stuart Elway released at a news conference Wednesday says 65 percent of voters back hiking the smoking age to 21, while 35 percent oppose a potential raise. The survey of 500 registered voters was taken Dec. 28-30 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
State Attorney General Bob Ferguson requested the legislation to boost the smoking age, which has a hearing in the House on Wednesday.
A report by the state Department of Health says smoking-related illnesses cost each Washington household about $628 a year in health care costs.
Under the bill, purchase of vaping devices and e-cigarettes by those under 21 would be banned.
Hawaii recently became the first state to raise its smoking age to 21, and in New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie didn't act on a bill Tuesday that would have hiked the state's smoking age to 21, so it remains at 19.
Copyright The Associated Press