D.C. Council member wants to raise smoking age

D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie introduced a new bill on Wednesday that would raise the minimum age to buy or possess tobacco products from 18 to 21. New York City recently passed similar legislation just last year. The bill is based on research that shows introducing people to tobacco later in life can potentially save lives. McDuffie also introduced a bill that would prohibit the sale and distribution of powdered alcohol. Several states have already banned the sale of the product. Last week, alcohol wholesalers and distributors in Maryland consented to a voluntary ban of the product. McDuffie added that alcohol in powdered form could be abused by young people, inevitably leading to alcohol poisoning.