Independence City Council raises legal smoking age to 21

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Independence has become the third Kansas City-area city to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone younger than 21.

By a 6-1 vote, the Independence City Council passed an ordinance Monday to raise the legal smoking age from 18 to 21 years old.

Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas, approved a similar ban last month.

The movement Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce launched the "Tobacco 21KC" campaign in October in hopes other cities join in taking steps to prohibit those younger than 21 from buying cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Councilwoman Karen Deluccie, who provided the only opposing vote, said if a person is 18 years old, they are legally an adult and must make their own decisions about which products to purchase.

Pertinent address:

Independence, Mo.