The minimum age to purchase tobacco products in Cleveland, Ohio is now 21-years-old. The increase from the previous minimum age of 18-years-old comes 120 days since Mayor Frank G. Jackson signed the ordinance that was approved by the city council on Dec. 7, 2015. Retailers will bear the burden to enforce the law, as any person who looks under 30 and attempts to buy tobacco or e-cigarettes must have their identification checked. Should a retailer sell to a person under 21, they will face a class four misdemeanor, punishable by a $250 and up to 30 days in jail. Repeat offenses could earn a second-degree misdemeanor, which would mean up to 90 days in jail. There are no fines or penalties for a person under the age of 21 using or possessing tobacco products or electronic smoking devices. Cleveland is the second largest city in Ohio, with a population of just over 390,000 residents.
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