Wrangell Sentinel -

The Alaska Senate by a wide margin last week approved legislation to tax e-cigarette products just as the state taxes cigarettes and tobacco products.

The legislation, which is scheduled for hearings this week in two House committees, also would raise the legal age to buy and sell tobacco products, including vaping devices and liquids, from 19 to 21 years old to match federal law.

The House and Senate are working toward a May 18 adjournment deadline in the constitution, pushing both chambers to move quicker on legislation.

“The goal here is to get it (vaping products) out of the hands of...