Oklahoma State Rep. Ben Loring, D-Oklahoma City, is once again trying to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco and vapor products in his state from 18 to 21-years-old.

Earlier this month, Loring introduced H.B. 1818, which modifies existing state laws regarding the sale and general display and availability of tobacco, revising the stated minimum age for tobacco products from 18 to 21. No fines were changed as part of his proposal, though it does make it illegal for a person under 21 to possess tobacco, unless it is a part of their duties as an employee.

Loring tried a similar proposal last year, only to see it die in the House Committee on Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances.

The increase would go into effect on Nov. 1, 2017. It has been assigned to the House Committee on Public Health where it is awaiting further action.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.