Criminal Law

questions & answers

Question: I recognize that AZ restrictions raised legal age to buy tobacco to 21 but does this include pipes and water pipes?

Answer: Yes, pipes and water pipes are included. ARS 13-3622 makes it a crime for any person to sell to a minor, or for any minor to buy/possess, "a tobacco product, a vapor product or any instrument or paraphernalia that is solely designed for the smoking or ingestion of tobacco or shisha, including a hookah or water pipe." Paraphernalia would include anything used to smoke tobacco. The law allows two exceptions: (1) if the pipe/paraphernalia is used or intended to be used in connection with a bona fide practice of a religious belief and as an integral part of a religious or ceremonial exercise or (2) the paraphernalia was a gift or souvenir and is not used or intended to be used by the minor to smoke or ingest tobacco or shisha. In either of those circumstances, it would not be a crime for a minor to posses pipes/other tobacco paraphernalia.