US: Maine Becomes Fourth State To Raise Smoking Age To 21

Lawmakers in Maine have overridden a veto by the governor, paving the way for the state to become the fourth one in the country to raise the legal smoking age to 21 years old.

Last Wednesday, both the state's Senate and House voted to override Gov. Paul LePage, who had vetoed LD 1170. This bill raises the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, including cigars, and also places stricter penalties on the unlawful sale of tobacco.

The bill will become law starting in July 2018.

Maine joins New Jersey, Hawaii and California as the only other states to raise their minimum tobacco-purchase age to 21. Additionally, about 250 cities and counties have raised their age limit to 21.