By: Ashmar Mandou

Governor JB Pritzker signed the “Tobacco 21,” a statewide bill that increases the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21, making Illinois the first state in the Midwest to raise the age limit and the eighth in the country to implement the legislation. “For Illinois, it will reduce the costs for our state, it will make our schools and communities healthier places to learn and live, and -most importantly -it will save lives,” said Pritzker. HB 345, which encompasses tobacco and vaping products, will go into effect July 1, according to the governor’s office. According to a Cook County Health press release, 95 percent of smokers start before the age of 21, and in Illinois 5,700 teens become new daily smokers each year. “Today, the State of Illinois confronted the public health challenge of tobacco and e-cigarette addiction by raising the purchasing age to 21. Our children must never be counted as part of tobacco companies’ bottom lines. They are our future, not their addicted consumers,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “When Big Tobacco evolved its attempts to lure youth into harmful addiction, Chicago confronted the challenge by raising the purchasing age to 21, banning tobacco discounts and instituting marketing regulations. As a result, smoking in the city has reached a record low of six percent, a 50 percent decrease over the last six years. I want to thank Senator Julie Morrison and Representative Camille Lilly for sponsoring this proven legislation, and Governor Pritzker for acting to break the cycle of addiction before it starts. Illinois’ leaders from every corner of the state are saying with one voice the wellness of our children is not for sale.”