CORTLAND — After several other counties passed local laws raising the required age to buy tobacco products to 21, Cortland County Health Department officials proposed the idea to the county health committee.

Catherine Feuerherm is the Public Health Director for Cortland County, and a driving force behind passing the local law.

“This is something we spoke of in health committee last June when the Institute of Medicine white paper came out, the summary report on the major impacts – public health impacts – a T21 law can have,” Feuerherm said.

Four other counties in the state, including Chautauqua, have passed local T21 laws.