Legal Age To Buy Tobacco Products Raised To 21

The legislature voted to override the Governor's veto of a bill that would raise the legal age to buy tobacco products to 21, but some teens will be grandfathered.

Governor LePage had vetoed the bill, saying that if an 18-year-old is mature enough to enlist in the military, then they're old enough to decide whether or not to smoke. But yesterday, the Legislature voted to override his veto and raise the legal age to buy tobacco products to 21. Maine joins Hawaii, California, Oregon, and New Jersey in making the move.

There will be one exception to the law. Anyone who reaches the age of 18 before July 1st of next year will be 'grandfathered' and allowed to purchase tobacco products.

The Portland Press Herald reports supporters of the measure claim that raising the legal age to 21 will greatly decrease the number of people who will start smoking. Opponents, however, argued that 18-year-olds can face criminal charges, vote, and go to war, so they should be old enough to buy tobacco.