Use education, not law, to curb teen smoking

The current political movement to criminalize the purchase and possession of tobacco products by 20-year-olds is bad law, A 20-year-old having a cigarette while watching TV in their living room is not harming anyone, nor are they a threat to anyone,

Tobacco does not alter behavior like alcohol or marijuana, Ironically, the legality of marijuana is growing, while tobacco is becoming increasingly illegal - What type of message is that?

Basically. at a rather young age. a 20-year-old who wants to smoke will be motivated to circumvent a law, because that law makes no sense, It protects no one. With history as our guide, we know prohibition does not work. It only leads to complex illegal activity. which does in fact harm our society.

Some will argue. the 20-year-olds are hurting themselves. Laws that purport to protect one from oneself are the first to be disregarded and lead to a disrespect of all laws,

A better solution is education. I recently spoke to a 21-year-old individual who was caught having a beer when they were 20. As part of their punishment, they had to complete an eight-hour course about the hazards of alcohol. When I asked how was the course, I was surprised to hear that they got a lot out of the course and their biggest question was why the course was not taught in high school.

If high schools are having a problem with young people smoking tobacco, they should do what they are charted to do - educate. Laws that protect no one and only foster illegal activity should not be passed.

John Matuszak

Mount Prospect