Medway, Mass. Raises Tobacco Purchase Age to 21

Medway has joined the list of cities and towns in Massachusetts raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, as last night the city’s board of health voted in favor of increasing the purchase age from 18 to 21.

The approval comes after voters gave their approval in a non-binding election in May by a tally of 479 to 252. While it was a public hearing on the change and residents were invited to speak on the matter, no one showed up either in favor or opposition, according to Wicked Local Medway.

The board also approved several other regulations regarding smoking, including banning smoking in hotels and motels, cigar and hookah bars, town parks, playgrounds, fields and beaches. Additionally, smoking in outdoor areas of bars, restaurants and taverns has been banned, as well as at bus and taxi waiting areas.

They also approved a 25-foot no-smoking buffer zone around municipal buildings in the city.

All of the changes will go into effect in 60 days.

Medway is located in Norfolk County, approximately 23 miles southwest of Boston, and is home to nearly 13,000 residents.

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.