(February 28, 2003) — You’re young, vulnerable and most susceptible to negative influences such as cigarettes. That’s exactly what cigarette companies are looking for. However, if the state senate and governor approve a bill written by California Assemblyman Paul Koretz, the age limit to purchase tobacco products will be raised from 18 to 21. This bill discourages college-age students from buying cigarettes, and if made into law, students may not want to go through the difficulty to purchase them. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 440,000 people die each year because of cigarettes. This law will prevent some of these deaths from occurring, because if students can’t easily get cigarettes, many will be discouraged from even trying. Many argue that teenagers find cigarettes easy to obtain so there is no point in this law. But we can’t decide that this law is not good simply because it won’t be as effective as we would like. No law is always going to be followed as intended. Since one does not drive at the speed limit every time, should we not have speed limits? Not having a law simply because it will be broken does not constitute a reason for not having that law at all. The age limit for cigarettes is currently 18, and many high school students find it easy to physically pass off for this age. However, while a 14 year old can sometimes pass for an 18 year old, they most likely won’t pass for 21. Although it’s currently legal for a “free” American adult to harm his or her body, this law will actually just save people from the many diseases that come with cigarettes. Not only is this helping their own body, but it keeps non smokers healthier as well because there would be less second hand smoke that would be inhaled. Furthermore, society’s medical costs will see a significant drop. We all benefit from fewer smokers, and with less health problems, people will have less health care to pay for. While many might think that the government is passing a law that will prove ineffective, in reality, this law can possibly save many lives. The government is working hard to pass this law, for it is a significant one that can make a difference in everyone’s life. Many believe that the government passes bills only to gain money. This is not the case for this bill because the government will lose $26 million in tax revenue, according to the News and Media Center. Many teenagers buy cigarettes, and a cut in cigarette sales is also a cut in tax money. According to a University of Illinois study, 3,000 U.S. residents each year start smoking before the age of 21. Even if this law only saves some of these 3,000 teens from getting addicted to intoxicating cigarettes,it is enough to say that this law is effective.