Los Angeles, May 5 (IANS): The California state government raised the legal age for smoking from 18 to 21.

After approval by the state senate last March 10, the bill was only awaiting a final signature from the governor of California, Democrat Jerry Brown.

The new law signed on Wednesday makes California, the most populous state in the US with 39 million inhabitants, the second state to raise the legal smoking age to 21, after Hawaii, EFE news reported.

This new law was approved despite Republican lawmakers in California objected to the bill.

Senator Ed Hernandez, who authored the bill, said in March that the measure will save lives because it will reduce smoking and tobacco use among young people.

He also said that the tobacco business model depends on the ability to "market and sell this poison to our kids".

Also, the California regulation on electronic cigarettes prohibits its use in restaurants, theatres, cinemas and other public places where traditional cigarettes are already banned.