Maine Gov. Vetoes Bill to Raise Tobacco Buying Age

AUGUSTA, Maine — As of now, Maine will not become the fourth state to set 21 as the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products. 

Gov. Paul LePage rejected a bill that would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21. If signed by the governor, the new law would have gone into effect in July 2018. The current legal age in Maine is 18.

However, the Tobacco 21 measure still has a chance; state lawmakers will consider LePage's veto on Aug. 2, according to The Associated Press.

In June 2016, Portland became the first municipality in Maine to adopt a Tobacco 21 ordinance.

LePage's veto came just days after another governor, Gov. Chris Christie signed Tobacco 21 legislation into law in New Jersey. Beginning Nov. 1, tobacco sales would be prohibited to anyone under 21. That state's current legal buying age is 19, as CSNews Online previously reported.

Hawaii and California are the only two other states that have 21 as the law of the land across the state. A similar measure in Oregon is on Gov. Kate Brown's desk.