It’s now illegal for people under the age of 21 to buy tobacco products in the First State.
State Sen. Bryan Townsend’s (D-11) bill raising the legal age to purchase cigarettes, vapes and chewing tobacco from 18 to 21 passed in April and took effect Wednesday.
Jayda Leon is a private caretaker living in Dover. She is 20 years old and can no longer legally purchase the vape pens she says she has smoked casually since turning 18. She opposes the new law.
“I feel passionate enough that I reached out to the Legislative Hall,” said Leon. “I emailed them about who I could maybe talk to about this law, because honestly I would petition to get it switched back if possible”
Leon points out people her age are old enough to join the military. She says they are also educated enough to make their own health decisions.
“We’re taught in school all about these products, so it’s not like we don’t know what we’re getting ourselves into when we start doing this type of thing,” she said. “I feel as though if we’re educated and we decide to make that choice anyways then that’s our choice to make.”
A 2015 study from Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services shows a higher percentage of adults in Delaware use tobacco compared to adults nationally, but less adolescents have used the increasingly popular e-cigarettes in Delaware compared to the national average.
Some Delaware health officials point to tobacco use as the main cause for recent data showing the rate of some forms of cancer growing faster in Delaware than other parts of the country.
Delaware is the 18th state to raise the age to purchase tobacco products.
