RALEIGH, N.C. – This week, North Carolina became the ninth state to look at raising the tobacco buying age to 21 so far in 2017, the North State Journal reports. State Rep. George Murphy introduced the bill, which has three other co-sponsors: Reps. Holly Grange, Bert Jones and Donny Lambeth.

“[More than] 90% of smokers become addicted prior to the age of 21, and recently North Carolina ranked second in the country in people aged 18-25 who used tobacco products for the first time,” Murphy said. “While we still acknowledge the personal right to smoke, it is time we got tobacco products out of the hands of our youth and help them lead longer and healthier lives.”

The bill would prohibit the sale of cigarettes, vapor products (including electronic cigarettes), cigarette wrapping papers and other tobacco products to those under the age of 21. However, the measure does include an exemption for military personnel between the ages of 18 and 20.

Other states considering upping the age restriction to 21 for tobacco products this year include Washington, Texas, Arizona, Oregon, Nebraska, Connecticut, Vermont and Florida. Currently, only California and Hawaii have statewide restrictions on being 21 to buy tobacco, although around 200 other localities have also raised the minimum tobacco purchase age above 18. For more, read “Must Be 21 to Buy” in NACS Magazine.