Maps in the News: California Smoking Age Increase

California Cigarettes or California as a Cigarette

Governor Jerry Brown of California signed a set of bills that raised the legal smoking age in the state from 18 to 21.  New laws will also restrict the use of electronic cigarettes, expand smoke-free zones at public schools, and criminalize the distribution of cigarettes to minors.  The bills were supported by a coalition of medical groups, including the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.

The map of California (above, click to enlarge) was created by Frank Chimero.  In this example of “artography,” a map of California takes the shape of a cigarette.  The map is from the book Strange Maps, which is available in the Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC).

Strange Maps:  An Atlas of Cartographic Curiosities was written by Frank Jacobs.  This book includes unique artistic maps, including inaccurate historical maps, political parody maps, literary maps, cartograms, and maps from outer space.

For more information, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097 Monday through Friday.