Michigan raises age for purchasing tobacco to 21
Michigan has raised the age to purchase tobacco and other products containing nicotine from 18 to 21.
The bill was signed on Thursday by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Those under 21 were already prohibited from using tobacco, but this bill regulates the sale.
Paul Wojno (D-Warren) had this to say: “The Tobacco 21 package aligns Michigan with progress at the federal level, and is an important step in keeping tobacco products out of the wrong hands. Kudos to Governor Whitmer for working with the me and my colleagues in the legislature to protect our communities and public health across the state.”
Whitmer’s statement: “Today, I am signing several bipartisan bills to protect public health and keep dangerous tobacco products out of the hands of our young people. In addition to legislation raising the state minimum age of tobacco sales from 18 to 21, I am proud to sign bipartisan bills today that will expand access to life-saving medication for those experiencing an opioid overdose, crack down on retail crime, protect privacy, and invest in judges to boost retention and get through our case backlog expeditiously.”
I’m not a tobacco user myself but it seems to make sense considering you can’t purchase alcohol until you’re 21 and this is already becoming a federal issue. No issue with it – but I can see many kids bummed out that they now have to wait even longer to make “adult decisions.”
