The minimum age to purchase tobacco products is now 21-years-old in Arkansas, which joins Texas in officially becoming members of the Tobacco 21 movement.

The legislation was passed in April, and comes with two exceptions to the increase. First, those serving in the U.S. military will be allowed to purchase tobacco if they are under 21. Second, anyone who will be at least 19 by Dec. 31, 2019 will be allowed to purchase tobacco without being 21.

A total of 18 states as well as the District of Columbia have passed Tobacco 21 legislation, though not every state’s age has increased yet. Maryland, Connecticut, Ohio, Washington and Utah will see their increases go into effect in the coming months.

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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 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.