TOWSON, Md. (AP) - A county council in Maryland has voted to raise the legal age for tobacco product sales and expand its law to include vaping products.

News outlets report the Baltimore County Council voted Monday to increase the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. WJZ-TV reports the legislation was necessary to allow the Baltimore County Department of Health to enforce the new requirements.

A Maryland state law took effect on Oct. 1 raising the legal age to buy tobacco products and electronic smoking devices. More than a dozen other states have similar legislation seeking to prevent young people from getting hooked on nicotine.

Baltimore County data shows 24% of high school students in the county use tobacco or vaping products.

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