Advocacy in Action: Passing Tobacco 21 Legislation in Washington State

Program Goals: Tobacco 21 legislation, increasing the minimum legal age to purchase tobacco and vaping products to 21 years, was signed into law in April 2019, after years of advocacy from the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (WCAAP) and coalition partners. The WCAAP’s goal was to educate about the impact of tobacco and nicotine on youth, and to advocate for tobacco control policy to protect youth from tobacco use. Evaluation: Tobacco 21 was first proposed in the 2015 Washington legislative session. The WCAAP prioritized it due to its potential health impact on youth. WCAAP’s lobbyist worked with a broad coalition of …