Lowell, Mass. Increases Tobacco Purchase Age, Restricts Sales of Flavored Tobacco

The movement to raise the age to purchase tobacco products in Massachusetts garnered another city yesterday, as the Lowell Board of Health unanimously approved a proposal to raise the minimum purchase age to 21-years-old.

Additionally, the board took a drastic step to get flavored tobacco products out of the majority of retail stores, limiting their sale to stores that derive at least 90% of their sales from tobacco products.

Both changes go into effect on Oct. 1, according to a report from the Lowell Sun.

The move brings the total number of cities and towns in the state to nearly 120, and comes as the state House of Representatives’ Rules Committee endorsed a statewide increase in the minimum purchasing age on Wednesday. The state Senate has already approved the bill, while the House has until July 31 to do the same.

Lowell is home to 108,861 residents as of a 2013 population estimate, making it the fourth most populous city in the state. It is located in northeastern Massachusetts, 30 miles northwest of Boston.

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.