Colorado is leading the nation in best practices for statewide Tobacco 21 laws, earning all “A” grades in a report released last week by the Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation.

The report evaluated the 33 states that have increased the age for purchasing tobacco to 21, grading each on enforcement, licensing, penalty structures and whether the state allows or preempts local enactment of tobacco control laws.

Colorado was one of five states to earn an overall A grade – joined by Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota and New York – and the only state to earn an A grade in all five categories: enforcement, licensing, penalties, preemption and definitions.

Colorado became the 30th state to pass Tobacco 21 legislation in the summer of 2020.

“Tobacco 21 works when it’s rigorously enforced,” said Dr. Rob Crane, president of the Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation.

“We face what the U.S. Surgeon General calls an ‘epidemic’ of teen vaping and addiction. Early nicotine use through e-cigarettes quadruples the chance of progression to cigarette smoking and puts kids at risk of increased anxiety, depression and substance abuse.”

The Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation has been advocating for raising the legal sales age for tobacco and nicotine products to 21 for over two decades.

President Donald Trump signed a bill in December 2019 raising the federal legal age to buy tobacco to 21; however, 17 states have still failed to enact any Tobacco 21 laws.

A whopping 12 states with Tobacco 21 laws are inadequately enforcing the laws, receiving an overall F grade in the report.

The Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation is endorsed by every national public health organization, including the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the American Public Health Association.

The full report is available at tobacco21.org.