The suggestion to raise the legal age to purchase, possess or use tobacco to 21 in Lane County is, in my opinion, simply a bit of ineffectual political grandstanding.  

Commissioner Bozievich attempts to make the case that raising the age from 18 to 21 will 
be a deterrent to young people ages 18 to 21 and decrease the number of new smokers.  This is a baseless argument.  First, Mr. Bozievich tells us he started smoking at age 15.  I'm guessing whatever state he lived in at age 15 did not allow him to legally purchase, possess and use tobacco.  So that law (again assuming it was in place) had no deterrent effect on him.  He is a personal argument against his contention. 

Additionally, in the Winter edition of the "Eugene" quarterly magazine, Smoke Free Oregon runs a full page anti-smoking ad.  It states in large latters "90% OF SMOKERS STARTED BEFORE AGE 18."  Raising the age from 18 to 21 will have absolutely no impact on this 90% 

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