Topeka, Kan. Tobacco Purchase Age Increase Put on Hold

An increase to the minimum age to purchase tobacco products in Topeka, Kan. that was slated to go into effect on Thursday has been put on hold, as a judge has issued a temporary restraining order against the city that will prevent the increase.

Shawnee Co. Judge Franklin Theis issued the order on Thursday according to a report by WIBW.com. The increase is being challenged by a pair of e-cigarette retailers, The Vape Bar and Puffs-N-Stuff, while getting legal support from the Kansas Vaping Association.

The Topeka City Council approved the increase on Dec. 4, passing it by an 8-2 margin. It made Topeka the 19th municipality in the state to pass what’s known as a “Tobacco 21” ordinance, with the capital city joining a list headlined by Kansas City. The ordinance did not prohibit the possession of tobacco and e-cigarettes by persons between 18 and 20-years-old.

A hearing has been set for Feb. 1, and the minimum age to purchase tobacco will remain at 18-years-old until the hearing is completed.

Topeka is home to approximately 127,000 residents.

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 Major League Baseball, 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.