In an effort to reduce teen vaping and smoking, the city of Denver voted on Monday to raise the age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21 in a move that will see them join eight other Colorado cities who also raised the purchasing age. The proposal includes vape products like e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products, in a move that could see the legal purchasing age increased to 21 statewide.
Aspen, Avon, Basalt, Boulder, Carbondale, Edgewater, Glenwood Springs, and Snowmass are the other eight that have raised the purchasing age to 21.
Colorado has the highest rates of children and teens vaping in the nation and state health workers are investigating six cases of sudden and severe lung illness associated with vaping, reports CBS. The bill would also set up a state licensing system for all nicotine sellers, meaning if they sell to minors repeatedly, they could lose their license.
In all, 18 states have raised the minimum legal age to 21 which covers half of the U.S. population. This summer hundreds of teens nationwide have been diagnosed with vaping-related lung disease.
