Opinion: Ottawa needs to stop fuelling the underground nicotine market
Canada's restrictive nicotine pouch policies are fuelling a thriving black market, undermining public health and losing tax revenue.Summary
Canada's unauthorized market for nicotine pouches is growing rapidly, with record seizures of contraband shipments from the United States. The author argues that the federal government's current policy, which restricts authorized nicotine pouches to pharmacies and treats them similarly to smoked tobacco, is failing. This approach ignores the reality that nicotine products have various uses and that many consumers seek alternatives to smoking. By not creating a distinct adult-use category for nicotine pouches under the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, Ottawa is driving demand to unauthorized sellers, bypassing youth protection measures and costing governments tax revenue. The author recommends establishing a regulated adult-use market with age verification, product standards, and enforcement to protect youth and generate revenue, while preserving the therapeutic pathway for cessation products.
(Source：Financial Post)
