Ohio governor wants to raise age to buy tobacco to 21

DAYTON, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is proposing raising the minimum age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21 as part of his two-year state budget.

The Dayton Daily News reports the plan also would include vaping products, which are growing in popularity among high school students.

About 20 percent of high school seniors say in a national survey that they vaped within a month last year.

Statistics show that more than one in five Ohio residents smoke and that tobacco-related diseases kill more Ohioans every year than opioids.

Jeff Stephens with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network says the group supports the age increase.

But he says the state should also increase the tax on cigarettes and tobacco products.