What a difference a day makes, or in this case two days. The Chicago City Council’s Finance Committee voted 22-9 to approve an amended tobacco ordinance that had previously failed only days prior.
The amended ordinance increases the legal age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21. The measure also sets minimum pricing of certain tobacco products, discount pricing and adds new taxes on other tobacco products. The later however is illegal according to state law that prohibits taxes on a city level.
The amended ordinance makes note that if a lawsuit is brought against the city of Chicago for this gross negligence of the law and the OTP tax is overturned a minimum price and package size requirement would take effect in lieu of the tax.
The ordinances now head to the full Chicago City Council for a vote.
