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Oregon Worst In Nation For Selling Tobacco To Minors - Again

Multnomah County Commissioners heard Tuesday that for the fourth time in five years Oregon has the worst record in the nation for selling tobacco to kids.

Every year the state takes a group of 16-year-olds - who look their age - and asks them to buy cigarettes at about 800 randomly selected stores.

This year, 21 percent of those kids were successful.

Multnomah County Commissioner Judy Shiprack said there's been substantial success at stopping older people smoking, but... "While we're patting ourselves on the back, our children are being trained up to be the next generation of consumers," she said.

Oregon is one of only about 11 states not to require a license to sell cigarettes.

The Oregon legislature is expected to look at the issue next session. It's also expected to consider banning the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. Currently they can be sold to any child that walks into a store.

Copyright 2014 Oregon Public Broadcasting