Colorado won’t hike tobacco age to 21

Colorado lawmakers have decided not to raise the tobacco age from 18 to 21.

The House Finance Committee rejected the proposal on Wednesday. It failed by a single vote.

Utah’s Legislature recently rejected a bill to raise the smoking age there.

The proposal was inspired by new research on how many smokers start the habit as teenagers. Some cities already have 21-to-smoke laws, but Colorado would have been the first with a statewide law if it’s approved.

Opponents said 18-year-olds are adults and should be trusted to make their own decisions on tobacco.