On Monday night, the Parsons City Commission approved a proposal to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco and alternative tobacco products from 18 to 21-years-old, unless an individual is an active member of the military and can provide proper identification.

The commission didn’t completely change the minimum age to possess or use tobacco, however, though it had the option to do so as it was presented with two versions of the ordinance, including one that would have criminalized use or possession of tobacco by a person under 21. Instead, it grandfathered in individuals who were at least 18 as of the time of its passage, meaning those born on or before April 2, 2000.

The move will go into effect immediately following publication in the Parsons Sun, the city’s newspaper, which also reported the ordinance’s passage.

Parsons is home to just under 10,000 residents and is located 150 miles south of Kansas City.

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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.