The movement to raise the tobacco age to 21 has been gaining steam in states like Massachusetts, but now the push to change the current law has crossed the country to Healdsburg, California.
The city of Healdsburg will vote tonight on the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. If passed, they will become the first city in California to adopt legislation. The legal age is part of a new Tobacco Retail License that will invoke an annual tax on retailers who sell tobacco products as well as banning tobacco sales at pharmacies.
The City Council meets tonight at 6pm at City Hall.
Healdsburg is home to 11,000 residents over 4.464 square miles and was founded in 1857.
UPDATE: The measure passed on Monday night with a 4-1 vote, making Healdsburg the first city in California to raise the tobacco age which some feel will eventually become a nationwide normal.
The cigar now also requires the city’s 20 tobacco retailers to obtain a special license for $450 annually that will be used to enforce the new legislation.
On a 4-1 vote, the council approved what was described as the first city ordinance in the state to raise the age from 18 to 21 for a person to purchase cigarettes and tobacco products. It also now considers e-cigarettes to be considered tobacco and it too will fall under the same legislation.
