Maryland has raised the minimum age to buy tobacco and nicotine products in the state from 18 to 21.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed the bill into law Monday, saying in a statement that "there is no more important job than protecting the health and safety of Marylanders."
The law will apply to all types of tobacco products, including vaping devices, and requires retailers in the state to post signs warning people of the new age limit. The law does make an exception to allow people 18 and over with military IDs to purchase tobacco. The law goes into effect in October.
Hogan said the measure is in effort "to confront the sharp rise in teen vaping." According to the CDC, more than 2 million middle school and high school students used e-cigarettes in 2017.
This makes Maryland the 13th state to have increased the tobacco sale age to 21. Sen. Mitch McConnell said last month he plans to introduce legislation to enforce the age limit nationwide sometime in May.
