Montana health officials are telling tobacco retailers that they should comply with a new federal law raising the age to legally purchase tobacco to 21.
President Donald Trump signed the new law on December 20th.
The law appears to have taken effect the next day, but the news wasn't widely distributed until almost a week later which created some confusion among retailers and regulators.
Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services says federal compliance checks will occur under the new age requirement and that the department is awaiting additional guidance from the FDA.
The law covers all forms of tobacco and tobacco-derived products including e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
