Calif. Raises Age to Buy Tobacco to 21

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed four measures into law restricting smoking, including one raising the age to buy tobacco to 21 from 18. California will become the second state, along with Hawaii, to raise the legal smoking age to 21 when the law takes effect June 9. The law will not apply to military personnel. Advocates for the measures said the goal is to deter adolescents from picking up the habit of the harmful effects of nicotine. According to the Institute of Medicine, 90 percent of daily smokers began using tobacco when they turned 19. After the law goes into effect, any person who sells or gives tobacco to people under the age of 21 could face misdemeanor charges.