Kansas City Civic leaders of Tobacco 21/KC campaign urges the raise of legal age for tobacco access from 18-21 in every municipality in the Kansas City metropolitan region. This national trend started in the early 2000's and aims to reduce tobacco smoking, especially in teenagers that may result to a variety of health problems in the future.
The Kansas Star reported that if this initiative would become a success, Kansas City would become the second-l argest metro area in the country to increase the minimum age next to New York City.
According to Jessica Hembree of the Health Foundation of Greater Kansas City, raising the age for tobacco access would reduce teenage users since high school is where smoking becomes addictive for teens.
In addition, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce President Jim Heeter also stated that changing this ordinance is just "literally one stroke of the pen," while the results for public health will be overwhelming.
Needham, Boston became the first municipality to raise age access for tobacco last 2005. Since then, the youth smoking rate has dropped significantly from 13 percent to 6.7 percent as stated by the Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation. This data urged 90 more municipalities, countries and states to follow the same initiative including New York City last 2014 and Hawaii just this year.
Tobacco 21/KC, with more than 100 businesses supporting its claim, including hospitals and clinics, communities, religious and health organizations, now works hand in hand with local officials to raise the age of tobacco access for all municipalities in Kansas City.
Though large scale tobacco businesses might oppose the campaign, Heeter is positive that the initiative would be supported and passed on to cities all over the metro.
Tobacco 21/KC is a project of the Chamber of Commerce and Blue Cross and Blue Shield which aims to improve the health and well being of metropolitan residents.
