California Raises Minimum Age to Purchase Tobacco to 21
First Hawaii and now California.
The most populous state in America has officially become the second in the nation to raise its minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21 years old.
Last Wednesday, Gov. Jerry Brown signed SBX2-7 into law. It's a package of tobacco-related bills, one of which raises the minimum age to purchase. The law will go into effect June 9.
The governor also approved bills that further restrict the use of e-cigarettes in public places as well as boost no-smoking areas around public schools. These laws won't take effect until January 1, 2017.
Gov. Brown, however, did veto a bill that would have allowed counties to raise local tobacco tax rates via voter approval.
As of now, Hawaii and California are the only states to adopt a 21-and-over age requirement for purchasing tobacco products. In Utah, Alaska and New Jersey, the minimum age to purchase tobacco products is 19.
