After years of work by LiveWell Douglas County, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, and the American Heart Association, the Lawrence City Commission approved a new ordinance on November 1st requiring any business selling tobacco to have a tobacco retail license. Compliance checks by the health department will ensure businesses are complying with the law and not selling any tobacco product -- including electronic cigarettes or "vapes" -- to anyone under 21.
“Raising the tobacco sales age to age 21 is a proven strategy to protect kids from tobacco use and vaping,” said Aftan Jameson, LiveWell’s chair and a member of the coalition’s tobacco-free living work group. “We’re excited to see T21 policies going into effect in Lawrence.”
The vote also added vaping to Lawrence's clean indoor air ordinance, meaning vaping isn't allowed in public spaces like restaurants and other public places.