US President Donald Trump signed a $738 billion Defense Spending Bill on Friday which raised the federal age requirement for tobacco purchases to 21.
Currently, anyone above the age of 18 can purchase tobacco products, however, the measure will prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21. The prohibition includes vape products, e-cigarettes and traditional tobacco products.
Trump tweeted that the spending agreement “raises smoking age to 21! BIG!”—in addition to stating that the bill creates the Space Force and funds the southern border wall.
While the bill raises the federal legal age to purchase tobacco products, many states have individually passed legislation to raise the tobacco-buying age. Currently, 19 states have raised the minimum age to 21. This includes, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
The bill will take effect in roughly nine months. The Food and Drug Administration has 180 days to update its regulations and they will go into effect 90 days after that.
