Washington’s smoking age rises to 21

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A new law is now in effect that raised the required age to be able to buy tobacco products from 18 years old to 21.

Washington’s Tobacco 21 law also applies to e-cigarettes and vaping products.

The legislation was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee in April.

Washington is the ninth state to raise the sale age for such products to 21. California, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah and Virginia, as well as more than 450 cities and counties nationwide, have also raised the sale age to 21.

"Because 18- to 20-year-olds supply younger teens with tobacco and vape products, this will reduce the number of cigarettes and vape products in our high schools, which will lead to fewer kids getting addicted,” said Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

The law does not penalize underage smokers for possessing tobacco or vapor products.

According to the state Attorney General’s office, more than 95 percent of addicted smokers start smoking before the age of 21.

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