<Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> United States (50 states and integral territories) <P> The federal law requires states to have a minimum age of 18 years for sale / purchase of tobacco products (21 U.S.C. § 387f. (3) (a) (ii)). State laws may extend this ban and also prohibit supply, possession and consumption to / by person underage . But most of the states do not directly ban the consumption of tobacco by a minor . The federal law requiring states to have a minimum purchasing age at 18 is enforced by withholding FEMA disaster and non-disaster grants from states that have purchasing ages under 18, and currently no state falls under that category . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Regulations by state: </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> State / territory </Td> <Td> Smoking age </Td> <Td> Purchase age </Td> <Td> Notes </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Alabama </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 19 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19 years . Minors are prohibited from using and possessing tobacco products . The minimum age was introduced in 1896 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Alaska </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19 years . Possession by minors is prohibited . The minimum age requirement does not apply to a person who is a prisoner at an adult correctional facility . The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1978 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 19 in 1988 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> American Samoa </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Arizona </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products or smoking equipment to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for a minor to be in possession of tobacco or smoking equipment, or to receive them . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Cottonwood and Douglas have raised their tobacco age to 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Arkansas </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to give or sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for minors to be in possession of tobacco products and to smoke in public . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> California </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 18 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> As of June 9, 2016, it is illegal to sell or furnish tobacco to a person under 21 years of age, with an exception for people in active military service who are 18 years old . <P> Before June 9, the age to purchase tobacco was 18 years of age . Amended after the 2016 election it is legal for persons age 18 and older to buy tobacco products with no filter . (Cigars, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, etc .) </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Colorado </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or distribute tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . Minors under the age of 18 years are prohibited from being in possession of any tobacco product . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Connecticut </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under 18 . It is illegal for minors to possess tobacco in public . A minimum age of 16 was introduced in 1902 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1987 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Delaware </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Selling, giving or otherwhise distributing tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years is illegal . Minors under the age of 18 years are not allowed to attempt to purchase tobacco or to be in the possession of tobacco products . The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1953 . The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1992 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Florida </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> The Florida Statutes make it a criminal offence so sell or supply tobacco to an individual under the age of 18 years . Minors may also not be in possession of tobacco products . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Georgia </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for minors to possess tobacco in public . Minors are allowed to possess tobacco products and to consume those, in private home if permission is given by parents or legal guardian . The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1987 . The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1993 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Guam </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> The minimum age will be raised from 18 to 21, as of January 1, 2018 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hawaii </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 21 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or furnish tobacco to a person under 21 years of age . It is also illegal for a person under 21 years of age to attempt to purchase tobacco . <P> The minimum age of 15 years was introduced on November 11, 1890 . The minimum age was raised from 15 to 18 on January 1, 1988 . The minimum age was raised from 18 to 21 on January 1, 2016 . </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Idaho </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Illinois </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> The cities of Chicago and Evanston have a tobacco sales age of 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Indiana </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Giving, selling, providing and distributing tobacco to minors is illegal . Minors may not possess, accept or purchase tobacco . Minors are not allowed to enter a tobacco business, defined in state law as a business whose primary activity is the sale of tobacco products and accessories . The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1980 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1987 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Iowa </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal for minors to be in possession of tobacco, to smoke in public or to purchase tobacco products . It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kansas </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to a minor . Minors may not possess or purchase or attempt to possess or purchase tobacco . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Eight cities in Kansas have raised their tobacco age to 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kentucky </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to minors . Minors may not purchase or possess tobacco products . Prior to 1990 Kentucky had no minimum age to purchase tobacco . From 1990 until 1992 the minimum age was 16 years . In 1992 the age was raised from 16 to 18 years of age . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Louisiana </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to a minor . A minor is not permitted to possess tobacco, except in private residences or if accompanied by a parent, spouse, or legal guardian 21 years of age or older . Prior to 1991 there was no minim age limit in Louisiana . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Maine </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to a minor . A minor is not permitted to possess tobacco, except in private residences or if accompanied by a parent, spouse, or legal guardian 21 years of age or older . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Maryland </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Minimum age raised from 16 to 18 in 1989 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Massachusetts </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell tobacco to minors . Anyone else than the parents or guardian are prohibited from giving any form of tobacco to a minor . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Over 100 cities in Massachusetts, including Boston, have age to 21 years . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Michigan </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors . Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public . Minors are permitted to smoke on private premises . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Minnesota </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors . Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public . Indian may furnish tobacco to an Indian under the age of 18 years if the tobacco is furnished as part of a traditional Indian spiritual or cultural ceremony . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mississippi </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors . Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Adams County has raised their tobacco age to 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Missouri </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors . It is not illegal to give tobacco to minors on private premises nor is it illegal for minors to smoke in public . Prior to 1992 Missouri did not have a minimum age limit . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Twelve cities in Missouri, including Kansas City, St, Louis and Jefferson City, have raised their tobacco age to 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Montana </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Sale or distribution of tobacco products to persons under 18 years of age is prohibited, whether over the counter, by vending machine, or otherwise . Prior to 1993 there was no minimum age limit . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nebraska </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or furnish, in any way tobacco to a minor . Minors may not smoke in public . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nevada </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Hampshire </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors . Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Jersey </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> No person shall sell, give or furnish to a person under 19 years of age, any cigarettes made of tobacco . The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1904 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1988 . The minimum age was raised from 18 to 19 in 2005 . The minimum age was raised from 19 to 21 on July 21, 2017, but doesn't take effect until November 1, 2017 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 15 cities in New Jersey tobacco age to 21 years . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Mexico </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Prior to 1991 New Mexico had no minimum age . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New York </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 18 (Smoking supplies under federal / state law) </Td> <Td> New York City bans all tobacco and e-cigarette sales to anyone under the age of 21 . Prior to May 18, 2014 the minimum age was 18 (by state law). </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Suffolk County bans all herbal cigarettes, rolling papers and pipes sales to anyone under the age of 21 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 19 18 (Military) </Td> <Td> Onondaga County bans all tobacco product sales to anyone under the age of 19 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> Nassau County bans all tobacco product sales to anyone under the age of 19 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> North Carolina </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal for anyone under age 18 to buy, attempt to buy, to receive, or to use a false or misleading proof of age for the purpose of purchasing or receiving any tobacco product or cigarette wrapping papers . The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1891 . The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1991 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> North Dakota </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Northern Mariana Islands </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco to a minor . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ohio </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Five cities in Ohio, including Cleveland, have raised their tobacco age to 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oklahoma </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years . The minimum age of 18 years was introduced in 1915 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oregon </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Starting January 1, 2018 it will be illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to anyone under the age of 21 years . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pennsylvania </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, furnish, give or otherwise provide tobacco to a minor . Minors may not purchase or attempt to purchase tobacco products . The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1972 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1990 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Puerto Rico </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rhode Island </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> No person under eighteen years of age shall purchase, nor shall any person sell, give, or deliver to any person under eighteen years of age, any tobacco products . No person under eighteen years of age shall use or possess, tobacco in any public street, place, or resort, any tobacco and / or electronic nicotine delivery system in any form . The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1896 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1988 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Carolina </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for minors to purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, or attempt to possess a tobacco product, or present or offer proof of age that is false or fraudulent for the purpose of purchasing or possessing a tobacco product . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Dakota </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Prior to 1989 South Dakota didn't regulate the sale of cigarettes to minors . Only smokeless tobacco products could not be sold to minors . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tennessee </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is unlawful for a person who has not attained 18 years of age to possess a tobacco product, to purchase or accept receipt of a tobacco product, or to present or offer to any person any purported proof of age which is false, fraudulent, or not actually that person's own for the purpose of purchasing or receiving any tobacco product . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Texas </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors . Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public . Exception: The individual younger than 18 years of age possessed the cigarette or tobacco product in the presence of an adult parent, a guardian, or a spouse of the individual or an employer of the individual, if possession or receipt of the tobacco product is required in the performance of the employee's duties as an employee . The minimum age to purchase, possess and consume tobacco was 16 years of age from 1899 to 1989 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> United States Virgin Islands </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Utah </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 19 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products or smoking devices to anyone under the age of 19 years . It is illegal for anyone under the age of 19 years to possess, consume, purchase any tobacco product . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vermont </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess or purchase tobacco products . The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1888 . The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1991 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Virginia </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess or purchase tobacco products . Prior to 1991 the minimum age to purchase tobacco products was 16 years of age . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Washington </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or permit to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is not illegal for minors to possess or consume tobacco products in public . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Washington, D.C. </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or permit to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is not illegal for minors to possess or consume tobacco products in public . The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1891 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1990 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> West Virginia </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess, consume or purchase tobacco products . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Wisconsin </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or permit to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is not illegal for minors to possess or consume tobacco products in public . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Wyoming </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess, consume or purchase tobacco products . Prior to 1991 Wyoming had no minimum purchase / sale age for tobacco products . </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <P> The federal law requires states to have a minimum age of 18 years for sale / purchase of tobacco products (21 U.S.C. § 387f. (3) (a) (ii)). State laws may extend this ban and also prohibit supply, possession and consumption to / by person underage . But most of the states do not directly ban the consumption of tobacco by a minor . The federal law requiring states to have a minimum purchasing age at 18 is enforced by withholding FEMA disaster and non-disaster grants from states that have purchasing ages under 18, and currently no state falls under that category . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Regulations by state: </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> State / territory </Td> <Td> Smoking age </Td> <Td> Purchase age </Td> <Td> Notes </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Alabama </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 19 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19 years . Minors are prohibited from using and possessing tobacco products . The minimum age was introduced in 1896 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Alaska </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19 years . Possession by minors is prohibited . The minimum age requirement does not apply to a person who is a prisoner at an adult correctional facility . The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1978 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 19 in 1988 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> American Samoa </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Arizona </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products or smoking equipment to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for a minor to be in possession of tobacco or smoking equipment, or to receive them . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Cottonwood and Douglas have raised their tobacco age to 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Arkansas </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to give or sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for minors to be in possession of tobacco products and to smoke in public . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> California </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 18 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> As of June 9, 2016, it is illegal to sell or furnish tobacco to a person under 21 years of age, with an exception for people in active military service who are 18 years old . <P> Before June 9, the age to purchase tobacco was 18 years of age . Amended after the 2016 election it is legal for persons age 18 and older to buy tobacco products with no filter . (Cigars, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, etc .) </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Colorado </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or distribute tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . Minors under the age of 18 years are prohibited from being in possession of any tobacco product . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Connecticut </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under 18 . It is illegal for minors to possess tobacco in public . A minimum age of 16 was introduced in 1902 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1987 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Delaware </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Selling, giving or otherwhise distributing tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years is illegal . Minors under the age of 18 years are not allowed to attempt to purchase tobacco or to be in the possession of tobacco products . The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1953 . The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1992 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Florida </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> The Florida Statutes make it a criminal offence so sell or supply tobacco to an individual under the age of 18 years . Minors may also not be in possession of tobacco products . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Georgia </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for minors to possess tobacco in public . Minors are allowed to possess tobacco products and to consume those, in private home if permission is given by parents or legal guardian . The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1987 . The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1993 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Guam </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> The minimum age will be raised from 18 to 21, as of January 1, 2018 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hawaii </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 21 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or furnish tobacco to a person under 21 years of age . It is also illegal for a person under 21 years of age to attempt to purchase tobacco . <P> The minimum age of 15 years was introduced on November 11, 1890 . The minimum age was raised from 15 to 18 on January 1, 1988 . The minimum age was raised from 18 to 21 on January 1, 2016 . </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Idaho </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Illinois </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> The cities of Chicago and Evanston have a tobacco sales age of 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Indiana </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Giving, selling, providing and distributing tobacco to minors is illegal . Minors may not possess, accept or purchase tobacco . Minors are not allowed to enter a tobacco business, defined in state law as a business whose primary activity is the sale of tobacco products and accessories . The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1980 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1987 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Iowa </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal for minors to be in possession of tobacco, to smoke in public or to purchase tobacco products . It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kansas </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to a minor . Minors may not possess or purchase or attempt to possess or purchase tobacco . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Eight cities in Kansas have raised their tobacco age to 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kentucky </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or supply tobacco to minors . Minors may not purchase or possess tobacco products . Prior to 1990 Kentucky had no minimum age to purchase tobacco . From 1990 until 1992 the minimum age was 16 years . In 1992 the age was raised from 16 to 18 years of age . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Louisiana </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to a minor . A minor is not permitted to possess tobacco, except in private residences or if accompanied by a parent, spouse, or legal guardian 21 years of age or older . Prior to 1991 there was no minim age limit in Louisiana . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Maine </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or distribute tobacco to a minor . A minor is not permitted to possess tobacco, except in private residences or if accompanied by a parent, spouse, or legal guardian 21 years of age or older . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Maryland </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Minimum age raised from 16 to 18 in 1989 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Massachusetts </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell tobacco to minors . Anyone else than the parents or guardian are prohibited from giving any form of tobacco to a minor . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Over 100 cities in Massachusetts, including Boston, have age to 21 years . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Michigan </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors . Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public . Minors are permitted to smoke on private premises . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Minnesota </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors . Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public . Indian may furnish tobacco to an Indian under the age of 18 years if the tobacco is furnished as part of a traditional Indian spiritual or cultural ceremony . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mississippi </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors . Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Adams County has raised their tobacco age to 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Missouri </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors . It is not illegal to give tobacco to minors on private premises nor is it illegal for minors to smoke in public . Prior to 1992 Missouri did not have a minimum age limit . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Twelve cities in Missouri, including Kansas City, St, Louis and Jefferson City, have raised their tobacco age to 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Montana </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Sale or distribution of tobacco products to persons under 18 years of age is prohibited, whether over the counter, by vending machine, or otherwise . Prior to 1993 there was no minimum age limit . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nebraska </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or furnish, in any way tobacco to a minor . Minors may not smoke in public . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nevada </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Hampshire </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors . Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Jersey </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> No person shall sell, give or furnish to a person under 19 years of age, any cigarettes made of tobacco . The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1904 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1988 . The minimum age was raised from 18 to 19 in 2005 . The minimum age was raised from 19 to 21 on July 21, 2017, but doesn't take effect until November 1, 2017 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 15 cities in New Jersey tobacco age to 21 years . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Mexico </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Prior to 1991 New Mexico had no minimum age . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New York </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 18 (Smoking supplies under federal / state law) </Td> <Td> New York City bans all tobacco and e-cigarette sales to anyone under the age of 21 . Prior to May 18, 2014 the minimum age was 18 (by state law). </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Suffolk County bans all herbal cigarettes, rolling papers and pipes sales to anyone under the age of 21 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 19 18 (Military) </Td> <Td> Onondaga County bans all tobacco product sales to anyone under the age of 19 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> Nassau County bans all tobacco product sales to anyone under the age of 19 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> North Carolina </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal for anyone under age 18 to buy, attempt to buy, to receive, or to use a false or misleading proof of age for the purpose of purchasing or receiving any tobacco product or cigarette wrapping papers . The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1891 . The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1991 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> North Dakota </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Northern Mariana Islands </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell and supply tobacco to a minor . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ohio </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Five cities in Ohio, including Cleveland, have raised their tobacco age to 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oklahoma </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years . The minimum age of 18 years was introduced in 1915 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oregon </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Starting January 1, 2018 it will be illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to anyone under the age of 21 years . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pennsylvania </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, furnish, give or otherwise provide tobacco to a minor . Minors may not purchase or attempt to purchase tobacco products . The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1972 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1990 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Puerto Rico </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rhode Island </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> No person under eighteen years of age shall purchase, nor shall any person sell, give, or deliver to any person under eighteen years of age, any tobacco products . No person under eighteen years of age shall use or possess, tobacco in any public street, place, or resort, any tobacco and / or electronic nicotine delivery system in any form . The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1896 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1988 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Carolina </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or otherwise supply tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for minors to purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, or attempt to possess a tobacco product, or present or offer proof of age that is false or fraudulent for the purpose of purchasing or possessing a tobacco product . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Dakota </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Prior to 1989 South Dakota didn't regulate the sale of cigarettes to minors . Only smokeless tobacco products could not be sold to minors . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tennessee </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is unlawful for a person who has not attained 18 years of age to possess a tobacco product, to purchase or accept receipt of a tobacco product, or to present or offer to any person any purported proof of age which is false, fraudulent, or not actually that person's own for the purpose of purchasing or receiving any tobacco product . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Texas </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give, supply or otherwise provide tobacco to minors . Minors may not purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, attempt to possess or consume tobacco products in public . Exception: The individual younger than 18 years of age possessed the cigarette or tobacco product in the presence of an adult parent, a guardian, or a spouse of the individual or an employer of the individual, if possession or receipt of the tobacco product is required in the performance of the employee's duties as an employee . The minimum age to purchase, possess and consume tobacco was 16 years of age from 1899 to 1989 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> United States Virgin Islands </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Utah </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 19 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products or smoking devices to anyone under the age of 19 years . It is illegal for anyone under the age of 19 years to possess, consume, purchase any tobacco product . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vermont </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess or purchase tobacco products . The minimum age of 17 years was introduced in 1888 . The minimum age was raised from 17 to 18 in 1991 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Virginia </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess or purchase tobacco products . Prior to 1991 the minimum age to purchase tobacco products was 16 years of age . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Washington </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or permit to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is not illegal for minors to possess or consume tobacco products in public . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Washington, D.C. </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or permit to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is not illegal for minors to possess or consume tobacco products in public . The minimum age of 16 years was introduced in 1891 . The minimum age was raised from 16 to 18 in 1990 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> West Virginia </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess, consume or purchase tobacco products . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Wisconsin </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, give or permit to sell or give tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is not illegal for minors to possess or consume tobacco products in public . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Wyoming </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, supply, give or otherwise furnish tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to possess, consume or purchase tobacco products . Prior to 1991 Wyoming had no minimum purchase / sale age for tobacco products . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Regulations by state: </Th> </Tr>

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