Maryland passes law to prevent nicotine sales to youth amid vaping concerns

Nearly all teenagers will be barred from buying e-cigarettes or their analog counterparts in Maryland after Tuesday, when a law raising the age to purchase tobacco products takes effect.

Maryland joins the District and 14 other states that restrict nicotine sales in an effort to curb an alarming surge in teen vaping. Approved in the spring, Maryland’s law takes effect amid nationwide concern about the safety of vaping both nicotine and marijuana products, according to an article in the Washington Post.

Maryland’s law increases the buying age for tobacco from 18 to 21 for everyone except active-duty members of the military.

The chief architect of the statute, House Economic Matters Committee Chairman Dereck E. Davis (D-Prince George’s), plans to introduce legislation in January to completely ban flavored vaping products, according to the story.