SAN ANTONIO - It may soon be illegal for anyone under 21 to buy tobacco products in San Antonio city limits.

The city wants to increase the legal age from 18 to 21 because of health benefits to the community.

"I'm definitely ok with that," said 16-year-old Cayla Wilson, who added she would be just fine if it was illegal to buy a cigarette under the age of 21. "There are many kids at my high school that … smoke and vape and dip, and it’s not good for our health. My grandfathers both smoked. One ended up with cancer and one ended up dying."

That's what the city of San Antonio is hoping to prevent.

At a public meeting Thursday, experts spoke about the benefits of keeping young, developing brains away from tobacco and saving lives in the long run.

"Your ability to avoid risk, your ability to process information and your ability to be addicted to nicotine and other drugs is significantly higher when your brain is young," said Carlos Jaen, chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the UT Health Science Center.

But opponents say changing the law in one city and not in others won't make much of a difference for public health. Instead, some believe, it will only hurt small businesses.

"There are 24 more cities in San Antonio and Bexar County. If I'm not going to sell, across the street they'll sell it," said Anwar Tahir, president of the Association of Convenience Stores.

Owners of 300 convenience stores in San Antonio are pushing back. They are the city to push for change at the state level but to leave the law alone until then.

"We'll go all the way, whatever we can do. We will convince city councilmen and women, and the mayor that this is bad for retail," said Tahir.

There will be more opportunities for the public to speak their minds on the proposal before the final vote is taken by City Council on Dec. 14.

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