Petition Calls for Stoughton to Raise Age to Buy Tobacco and Nicotine Products

STOUGHTON, MA - Stoughton could be the next town to raise the age to purchase tobacco and nicotine products.

A petition to increase the purchase age to 21 is now circulating online. As of Monday night, the petition has 41 signatures.

The effort is spearheaded by Dr. Lester Hartman, a pediatrician at Westwood-Mansfield Pediatric Associates, who has railed across the state for the age hike.

“As part of our “Health Towns, Healthy Children” campaign, we are asking for your help to raise the tobacco and nicotine delivery systems (electronic cigarettes) purchasing age to 21 in our town,” the petition reads. “Given the growing evidence of brain and nicotine addiction, we know the longer we delay nicotine use, the less likely a person is to become addicted. Studies have shown that 90% of lifetime smokers began smoking before the age of 21. After 21 years of age, there is only a 2% chance that when a person initiates they will become addicted.”

There are currently 93 communities in Massachusetts where the age to buy smoking products is 21. Milford became the most recent town to pass an age hike.