Governor signs tobacco age increase bill into law

OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 was signed into law Tuesday by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt.

Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada, was the bill’s author.

Sen. McCortney says the legislation ensures Oklahoma’s statutes now align with the federal Tobacco-Free Youth Act, which was signed by President Donald Trump last December.

The federal law prohibits the sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.

“Even though the federal government had already raised the age to 21, we needed to make sure state law mirrored that so there was no confusion or ambiguity for the public, businesses or law enforcement,” McCortney said.