Last updated on July 25th, 2017 at 10:36 am
With Gov. Chris Christie signing the bill into law Friday, New Jersey joined the growing list of states and communities prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to anyone under age 21.
Tobacco 21 laws also have been enacted by California, Hawaii and at least 255 cities and counties, including New York City, Chicago, Boston, Cleveland, St. Louis and both Kansas Cities. The Oregon Legislature approved a similar bill earlier this month, and Gov. Kate Brown has indicated she will sign the measure into law. A tobacco 21 bill also awaits the governor’s signature in Maine, and statewide measures remain under consideration in Massachusetts and elsewhere.
In signing the bill, Christie noted that raising the tobacco age gives young people a “better understanding of how dangerous smoking can be and that it is better to not start smoking in the first place.”
He added, “My mother died from the effects of smoking, and no one should lose their life due to any addictive substance.”
