The village of Maywood, Ill. has passed an increase to the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, raising it from 18 to 21-years-old during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
The ordinance also makes it illegal for a person under 21 to possess or use tobacco, and adds language that allows law enforcement officers to seize and destroy and tobacco products should they find any on a person not of age.
With the increase, the Chicago metropolitan area has gained another supporter of the Tobacco 21 movement, as Chicago, Oak Park, Evanston, Deerfield, Naperville and Highland Park have all raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco. A bill is also under consideration in the state legislature to increase the tobacco purchase age to 21 statewide.
The increase goes into effect immediately. Results of the vote were confirmed by WBBM/CBS Chicago.
Maywood is home to approximately 25,000 residents and is located 12 miles west of Chicago.