The Isanti County Commissioners have unanimously approved an ordinance that will soon raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products in the county to 21-years-old, giving Minnesota another municipality to add to its growing list that have enacted such an increase.

The ordinance also applies to e-cigarettes and tobacco alternatives but does not change the minimum age to possess or use such products, which remains at 18-years old. The increase is scheduled to go into effect on June 1.

Isanti County is home to nearly 40,000 residents and is located just over 50 miles north of Minneapolis.

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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.