Independence becomes the latest area in the KC metro to raise the smoking age to 21-years-old.
The ordinance passed Independence City Council 6-1 on Monday night.
RELATED| City Councils pass smoking age bill
The ordinance not only applies to tobacco products but also all e-cigarettes and vaping devices.
“We are seeing a bigger section of kids after they’ve started using vaping devices to then migrate back to tobacco products,” said Bridget McCandless, President and CEO of Healthcare Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
The ordinance will take effect in March of 2016.
@41ActionNews The city of independence just passed a vote to raise the age limit to purchase tobacco to 21 years old pic.twitter.com/kuQBWKOH0J
— Nick Kastelan (@nickkastelan) December 22, 2015
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