Maybe lost in the mix at the start of the month was the increase of taxes on cigarettes and the change that you now need to be 21 to buy them. 

The changes were approved by a bi-partisan group of lawmakers and signed by Democrat Governor JB Pritzker. Supporters of the changes hope it gets people to quit smoking or to never start. The State’s Doctor – the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health – Ngozi Ezike says barriers to smoking prove a good return on investment. 

Illinois is one of more than 20 states that’s bumped the age to use tobacco to 21.