New York lawmakers over the next four weeks are weighing Gov. Kathy Hochul's plan to increase the per-pack tax on cigarettes by $1 and ban flavored tobacco products like menthol. 

And over the next four weeks, they'll be hearing from critics and supporters of the plan.

On the one end, convenience store and wholesale organizations argue the measure will lead to a wide-ranging economic effect for the businesses as well as the people they employ while driving up the spread of illegal cigarettes. Supporters contend the measures will curtail tobacco use in New York and improve the state's overall health. 

These arguments were on display Tuesday at the state Capitol in Albany, where the New York Association of Convenience Stores President Kent Sopris says a potential $1 increase in the state's tax on cigarettes and a ban on menthol cigarettes would have a dire economic impact. 

"Prohibitionist policies and regressive taxes such as these will only hurt small businesses, strengthen the underground market and have no health impact on adults or children," Sopris said. 

This could have a tax impact on New York as well. The Tax Foundation in an analysis found New York has the greatest rate of cigarette smuggling, accounting for more than half of the consumption in the state. 

That opposition now includes Teamsters Union Local 810 in New York. President Mike Smith said a tax hike and flavored tobacco ban will lead to job losses and worse benefits for his members. 

"If these employers have to absorb these types of costs, they will have to come to bargaining table with less wages and benefits because of the tax hike," Smith said. 

Smith's union represents truck drivers and warehouse workers in New York. Smith pointed to the loss of Massachusetts workers' jobs after a ban on menthol cigarettes took effect in 2020.

"Those 12 individuals lost their jobs and their health care and their benefits that day and so did their families," he said.  

But anti-tobacco advocates like Michael Davoli of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network have insisted the ban and tax increase will save lives — especially among vulnerable people. 

"Tobacco kills and we know that flavor hooks kids and starts them on a lifelong addiction to tobacco and enough is enough," he said. "We need lawmakers to stop making excuses, why they can't get rid of tobacco and we need them to take action."

Marla Garland of the NAACP chapter in Brooklyn said the years of Black communities being targeted by tobacco companies to buy menthol cigarettes have taken their toll. 

"It's automatically going to save lives because menthol cigarettes are used by 85% of African-American smokers," Garland said. "So if you take that away, imagine how many lives that's going to save."