You can now add Maryland to the growing list of states that have raised the tobacco purchase age to 21. On Monday May 13th, Maryland Republican Governor signed a bill raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products in the state to 21-years-old with an exemption for active members the military. HB 1169 passed the House with a vote of 101-35 and the Senate with a vote of 32-13.
The new law goes into effect October 1, 2019.
Maryland joins Arkansas, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington in raising the tobacco purchase age to 21. While New York has sent a bill to the Governors desk where it currently await a Gubernatorial signature or veto.
