The Marblehead, Mass. Board of Health voted unanimously yesterday to increase the minimum age to purchase tobacco and tobacco substitute products, such as e-cigaretttes, from 18 to 21-years-old. In addition, a ban on smoking at town beaches and parks also passed, as did a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products at retailers other than specialty tobacco shops.

The changes will go into effect on July 1. According to a report from Wicked Local, there was no opposition from the public to any of the changes during the hearing.

Marblehead joins more than 100 other cities and towns in Massachusetts that have increased the age to purchase tobacco products. It is located on the east coast of Massachusetts, approximately 20 miles northeast of Boston. It is home to nearly 20,000 people.

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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.