A new federal regulation was recently signed by President Donald Trump making it illegal to sell tobacco and vaping products to anyone under the age of 21.

Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn disagrees with the new Food and Drug Administration rule and believes the federal government has to enforce it.

“It is not the responsibility of our local law enforcement agents or my office as county attorney to enforce federal law. So this is why the federal government will have to have agents in rural Iowa attempting to purchase tobacco products illegally under federal law.”

Laehn tells Raccoon Valley Radio they will continue to enforce Iowa law, which allows individuals 18 and older to purchase and possess tobacco and vaping products. However, Laehn points out if a business sells tobacco products to anyone under 21, they could be subject to a fine or lose their tobacco license by the federal government. 

While the enforcement rules haven’t been released by the FDA, Laehn believes this is an unnecessary reach by the federal government.

“I think this is a tremendous abuse of the federal government’s power. The traditional and constitutional role of the federal government is to protect our (nation’s) borders, to have a post office, to provide national defense, to engage in international diplomacy and trade. But the regulation of the health, safety, wealthfare and morals of the people of Iowa is the responsibility of the state government.”

Sources say the change in the federal tobacco law was made due to raising concerns of nicotine use by younger people and the possible health risks with vaping products. Laehn adds the new federal regulation prohibits selling tobacco and vaping products to anyone under the age of 21, but individuals 18-20 can still possess those items legally.