Young Californians will have to wait a little longer to light up.
California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed numerous bills related to tobacco use Wednesday, which will raise the smoking age in the state from 18 to 21, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
The bills signed by Gov. Brown will also restrict the use of electronic cigarettes in public places and expand no-smoking areas at public schools.
However, the governor said no to a bill that would have allowed counties to look for voter approval of local tobacco taxes to fund healthcare expenses for people with tobacco-related illnesses, according to the report.
California Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) expressed his support for raising the smoking age, claiming it will save lives.
"The governor's signature on Tobacco 21 is a signal that California presents a united front against 'Big Tobacco,'" Sen. Hernandez said in a statement, the Los Angeles Times reported. "Together, we stand to disrupt the chain of adolescent addiction."
A coalition of medical groups, including the American Heart Association, American Lung Association., American Cancer Society and the California Medical Association, have also shown their support.
But the governor's action has not received support from tobacco giant Altria.
At the time the smoking age bill was introduced, Altria spokesman David Sutton said the industry would rather the issue be handled by the Food and Drug Administration, according to the report.
The bills were approved during a special session on healthcare and will take effect June 9.