Synar Amendment

The Synar Amendment is the name commonly given to Section 1926 of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration Reorganization Act (Public Law 102–321), which was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1992. Its nickname is taken from one of the bill's cosponsors, Representative Michael Synar, who was a Democratic congressman from Oklahoma. The amendment contains provisions to reduce the use of tobacco products among minors by requiring all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories to pass and enforce legislation that prohibits the sale or distribution of such products to individuals under the age of 18. The Synar Amendment also provides sanctions that may be handed down to states that fail to meet its requirements. Several key aspects of the ...