Douglas County, Kan. Approves Tobacco 21 Ordinance

Tobacco retailers in the unincorporated parts of Douglas County, Kan. will soon be restricted from selling tobacco products to anyone under 21-years-old, as the Douglas County Commission approved a Tobacco 21 ordinance this week.

The change was approved at the commission’s meeting on Wednesday and will go into effect 30 days following its publication, which has yet to occur but is expected to happen in the very near future, setting up the increase to go into effect around the end of October. It also applies to tobacco alternative products such as e-cigarettes and any products containing nicotine.

It will be fairly limited in its impact however, as the Lawrence Journal-World reports that there are only four tobacco retailers in the unincorporated parts of the county. Retailers who sell tobacco or nicotine products to persons under 21-years-old will face a fine of $200.

The increase comes amidst a challenge to the legality of such increases in the state, as the city of Topeka is suing to have its increase go into effect, with a hearing date yet to be set in front of the Kansas Supreme Court.