Maryland is the latest state to raise the legal age to buy tobacco and nicotine products, including vaping products, from 18 to 21.
The legislation signed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and will take effect in October.
“There is no more important job than protecting the health and safety of Marylanders,” said Hogan.
The law will require retailers to post warning signs that tobacco products can only be sold to people age 21 or older. The law will apply to all types of tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes and vaping devices.
The law includes an exception that will allow people 18 and over with military IDs to purchase tobacco.
“We cannot fulfill our mission to provide the world’s one billion adult smokers with a true alternative to combustible cigarettes, the number one cause of preventable death in this country, if youth-use continues unabated,” said Juul CEO Kevin Burns. “That is why we are committed to working with lawmakers to enact these effective policies and hope more jurisdictions follow in Maryland’s example.”
Both Juul and Altria recently backed a proposal by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) that would increase the nationwide tobacco purchasing age to 21.
Maryland is the 13th state to enact an over-21 tobacco law, joining Arkansas, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
