Following Hawaii, New Jersey may become the second state to raise the smoking age to 21.
On Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, New Jersey lawmakers voted to approve the measure to raise the smoking age from 19 to 21.
According to a report fromĀ NBC 10, the bill has already passed through the Senate and is now awaiting approval from New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie. If the bill is passed into law, retailers would be fined for selling tobacco to anyone aged 20 or younger, but underage smokers would not be punished.
Several other states have made similar proposals, and the smoking age in Hawaii and New York City has already been changed to 21.