Hawaii may be the first state to raise the legal smoking age to 21 after a bill was cleared by the Legislature on Friday. The bill is headed to Governor David Ige but it is unclear whether he will sign the measure. If the bill is passed, anyone under the age of 21 would be prevented from smoking, buying, and possessing both traditional and electronic cigarettes. Anyone caught doing so would be fined $10 for the first offense and $50 or community service for subsequent offenses. According to the state Department of Health, 5,600 kids in Hawaii try smoking each year and 90 percent of daily smokers begin before they are 19. Opponents say it's unfair that a military veteran, who is deemed an adult at 18, will return from service and not have the right to smoke.
