City of Minneapolis considering minimum of $15 for cigarettes to discourage smoking, angering retailers

The City of Minneapolis wants to create a minimum cost of $15 on tobacco products. It's an ordinance the City Council apparently didn't consult with store owners on.

"You would think that the city would be including us in early in the process before introducing such an ordinance being proposed, but they didn't," says Minneapolis retailer Lonnie McQuarterly.

Other owners are ticked off as well.

"There's plenty of other issues in Minneapolis that they should be focusing on," says retailer Rick Bohnen.

If this legislation passes, retailers say they stand to lose money.

"Just sure, it seems like this City Council just can't stay out of anybody's business, whether it's fixing Uber and Lyft or price fixing cigarettes or making sure nobody can smoke a menthol cigarette," says Bohnen. "I don't know what they're doing."

Retail representatives say they'd be more than willing to speak with council members to work things out.

The city is saying that they feel increased prices will help smokers quit and deter more youth from purchasing these products

Opponents say this legislation will cause more issues.

"It creates crime, it forces criminals to go across the border to bring in untaxed cigarettes to be sold on our streets," explains former ATF agent Rich Marianos.

The city does add that strict practices are already in place to prevent sales to minors.