1. What is the new minimum sales age and when does it take effect?
Beginning October 1, 2019, the new minimum sales age for all tobacco products in Maryland is 21 (“T21”). This includes sales of all electronic smoking devices—e-cigarettes, vapes, pod devices such as JUUL®, e-liquids, and component parts and accessories.
2. How is a tobacco product defined?
As of October 1, 2019, a tobacco product includes cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, and snus,
electronic smoking devices (ESDs), and filters, rolling papers, pipes and liquids used in electronic smoking devices, regardless of nicotine content, as well as accessories and components.
3. Is there grandfathering or a grace period?
No. There is no “grandfathering,” phase-in, or grace period. As of this October 1, 2019, no tobacco sales are permissible to customers under 21.
4. Is there an exemption for military personnel?
Yes. Those who are active duty military and at least 18 years of age are exempt and may be sold tobacco if a valid military identification (ID) card is provided. The Common Access Card is valid military ID. For more information,
https://www.cac.mil/Common-Access-Card/
5. Do retailers need to post T21 signs in their stores?
Yes. Retailers must post a sign in a clearly visible location using letters at least one-half inch high that states, "NO PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 21 MAY BE SOLD TOBACCO PRODUCTS WITHOUT MILITARY IDENTIFICATION." The Maryland Department of Health will mail T21 compliant signs to all licensed tobacco retailers, including vape shops, across the state. Prior to the effective date, T21 signs will also be available for download at
www.NoTobaccoSalesToMinors.com.
1. Why is raising the minimum sales age to 21 important?
In 2018, the U.S. Surgeon General warned that e-cigarette use among youth is now an epidemic. Between 2017 and 2018, current e-cigarette use increased 78 percent among U.S. high school students; in 2018, more than 3.6 million U.S. youth, including 1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle school students, reported current e-cigarette use. Raising the sales age to 21 helps reduce youth access to e-cigarettes and other tobacco products, which reduces the likelihood of them ever starting to use tobacco. Most adults who smoke or use tobacco started by age 21.
2. Have similar laws been implemented elsewhere?
At least 14 states and 475 localities have raised the sales age to 21.
1. What do retailers need to do to comply with the new T21 law?
Retailers need to:
- Display new T21 signage in a clearly visible location.
- Use a driver’s license or government-issued ID to verify customer age.
- Train all staff on the following steps for every tobacco sale:
- Ask for valid ID from everyone under 27 attempting to purchase tobacco products (federal law).
- Check ID to make sure each customer is at least 21.
- Refuse to sell tobacco products to everyone under 21 (except active duty military with valid ID).
2. Who enforces the new T21 law?
The Maryland Department of Health, including local health departments, and local law enforcement agencies are authorized to enforce the T21 law.
3. Will retailers be inspected for illegal tobacco sales to individuals under 21?
Yes. State and local enforcement agencies are authorized to conduct random, unannounced inspections at retail sites and to use persons younger than 21 years of age to conduct enforcement activities.
4. Will FDA be checking for compliance with T21?
FDA conducts its own retail inspections, separate from state and local enforcement. The federal tobacco sales age remains at 18; however, FDA requires an ID check for all customers under 27.
5. What are the fines and penalties for selling tobacco products to individuals under 21?
Penalties can include criminal and civil fines, as follows:
- $300 for first violation;
- $1,000 for second violation within two years;
- $3,000 for each subsequent violation within two years of the preceding violation.
6. Who is responsible for paying fines for T21 violations?
Civil fines are paid by the retailer, regardless of who illegally sold tobacco. Criminal fines are the responsibility of the individual or entity that received the criminal citation.
7. If a retailer trains staff on the new T21 law and the staff acknowledge this training in writing, is the retailer still liable if a staff member sells tobacco to a person under 21?
Retailers are responsible for civil fines resulting from illegal sales at their establishment. Free training is available 24/7 at www.NoTobaccoSalesToMinors.com.
8. Does the new state T21 law apply to local jurisdictions that have an ordinance stating the minimum age of sale for tobacco products is 18 years of age?
Yes. Maryland’s T21 law applies in every jurisdiction. Local tobacco sales laws may additionally be enforced.
9. Does the new T21 law change the age of sale for other CBD products such as topicals or sublinguals?
The new T21 law prohibits the sale of tobacco- and nicotine-derived products as well as the sale of electronic smoking devices and any substance aerosolized or vaporized during the use of a such device, to anyone under 21. For questions on the sale of specific CBD products, contact your legal counsel for current information. Questions related medical marijuana (aka, medical cannabis) should be directed to the Maryland Cannabis Commission at
https://mmcc.maryland.gov/Pages/home.aspx.
1. How is an electronic smoking device (ESD) defined?
As of October 1, 2019, an electronic smoking device (ESD) is defined as a tobacco product and includes electronic cigarettes, electronic cigars, electronic cigarillos, electronic pipes, electronic hookah, vape pens, pod devices such as JUUL®, vaping liquid and any component, part, or accessory of such a device, regardless of whether it is sold separately, including any substance intended to be aerosolized or vaporized during use of the device.
2. Can retailers sell non-nicotine e-cigarettes (vapes) or non-nicotine e-liquid to individuals under 21?
No. E-cigarettes (vapes) as well as e-liquids, regardless of nicotine content, are considered tobacco products and cannot be sold to anyone under 21.
3. Can retailers sell e-cigarettes (vapes) or e-liquid containing CBD to individuals under 21?
No. E-cigarettes, vapes, vaping liquids as well as any substance intended to be aerosolized or vaporized during the use of electronic smoking devices are considered tobacco products and cannot be sold to anyone under 21.
4. Can retailers sell an e-cigarette, vape pen, or rolling papers for use with marijuana to someone under 21 with a medical marijuana card?
No. Maryland law prohibits retailers from selling e-cigarettes, vape pens, or rolling papers to anyone under age 21.
5. Can retailers sell wire, metal, or cotton designed for use in atomizers to individuals under age 21?
No. If the wire, metal, or cotton is designed for use in an atomizer, it is considered a tobacco product under state law, which includes components, parts and accessories of tobacco products, whether or not sold separately.
6. Can retailers sell shisha to individuals under 21?
No. Shisha is considered a tobacco product since it is made or derived from tobacco, and cannot be sold to anyone under age 21.
1. Where can retailers obtain a sign compliant with the new T21 law?
Prior to October 1, 2019, signs will be made available to download, along with other training materials and resources at
www.NoTobaccoSalesToMinors.com.
2. Are retailers required to use the sign provided by the Maryland Department of Health?
No. Any sign that meets the legal requirements (outlined earlier) is acceptable. However, using the free sign from the Maryland Department of Health ensures the retail outlet is following the law.
3. What if retailers don't post a sign compliant with the new T21 law?
The Office of the Comptroller has the authority over signage requirements and may enforce this provision.
1. Are clerks younger than 21 permitted to sell tobacco products?