Cities vote to raise age for tobacco purchases to 21

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Young Kansas City smokers will have to drive a bit farther to buy their cigarettes, e-cigarettes or vapor products under an ordinance that's getting widespread support in the metropolitan area.

On the same day as the American Cancer Society's annual Great American Smokeout, the Kansas City, Missouri, City Council voted 11-1 Thursday in favor of an ordinance raising the minimum age to buy tobacco products, rolling papers and alternative nicotine products to 21.

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, approved a similar measure Thursday night on a 6-1 vote.

Neither city's ordinance changes the legal smoking age of 18.

Kansas City, Missouri, Councilwoman Alissia Canady said Thursday raising the purchasing age was "the responsible thing to do as policymakers."

The regional effort makes Kansas City the second-largest metro area in the U.S. -- behind only New York City -- to raise the minimum age.

In December, Columbia became the first Missouri city to do so.

The ordinance is a perfect fit for other local health initiatives, such as Healthy Communities Wyandotte, said Mike Taylor, spokesman for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.