Massachusetts has been the country’s hotbed of tobacco age increases, and on Tuesday night the Andover Board of Health threw another log on the fire as it approved an increase in the minimum age to purchase tobacco and nicotine delivery products to 21.

Additionally, the board approved changes to where tobacco products can be sold and how many stores will be allowed to sell tobacco products. A total of 14 permits are being authorized for the city, and those stores now must be at least 500 feet from a school, while tobacco sales at health care institutions, pharmacies and medical centers are now prohibited. The Andover Townsman reports that there are currently no retailers who are within 500 feet of a school, meaning the change would only apply to new retailers.

The changes go into effect on Feb. 1, just under six months since the board initially met to discuss such a change.

Andover is located in Essex County, roughly 20 miles north of Boston. It has a population over 30,000.

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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.