A new federal law raising the legal age to purchase tobacco and vaping products to 21 has run into a bit of a snafu as Wisconsin state law enforcement officers are unable to enforce it as it conflicts with state laws.
Wisconsin state laws say the minimum age to purchase tobacco or vape products is 18. Local law enforcement agencies enforce state laws and not federal laws, so police departments are unable to do anything if a business continues to sell tobacco or vape products to 18-, 19-, or 20-year-olds.
The Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association has sent a letter to state legislative leaders asking for Wisconsin’s laws to be changed to allow law enforcement to effectively enforce the new federal age minimum. Bills that would change Wisconsin’s laws have been introduced in the Senate and Assembly, but neither has been voted on yet.