Canada’s New Health Department Rule: Nicotine Pouches Restricted to Pharmacy Sales, Concerns over Smokers’ Difficulty in Quitting

According to a report by CTV. News on September 9, Canadian Minister of Health Mark Holland issued a controversial ministerial order. Starting from Wednesday (the 28th), Canadians can only purchase nicotine pouches in pharmacies. The announcement of this measure has affected the sales of ZONNIC, a nicotine pouch brand of Imperial Tobacco Canada (ITCAN), in convenience stores.

Two pharmacies in Brockville, Ontario, Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall said that they have no plans to stock the product for the time being.

A convenience store in Thousand Islands City said that these nicotine pouches are very popular. Just last Sunday morning, three to four customers came to buy them but left empty-handed.

Some Canadian officials said that these products are too easily accessible to minors. Supporters of nicotine pouches argue that the new regulations make it more difficult for those who actually use them to quit smoking to obtain them.

In conclusion, this new rule in Canada has sparked a heated debate. While aiming to protect minors, it may inadvertently create obstacles for smokers trying to quit. The government needs to carefully monitor the situation and consider possible adjustments to strike a better balance between safeguarding public health and meeting the needs of smokers seeking cessation aids. Additionally, more public education and awareness campaigns could be launched to help both smokers and the general public understand the implications and make more informed choices.