Protecting Youth Requires Focus on Illicit Nicotine Market
If safeguarding young Canadians from nicotine products is truly the goal, then the conversation must shift decisively toward addressing the rampant illicit market. The evidence clearly indicates that youth access to nicotine pouches is overwhelmingly fueled by illegal, unregulated products that circumvent Canada's regulatory framework entirely.
The Distinction Between Legal and Illegal Products
Imperial Tobacco, through spokesperson Eric Gagnon, emphasizes that protecting youth and supporting adult smokers who wish to quit are not mutually exclusive objectives. Both require a dual approach: robust enforcement against illegal products and proportionate, sensible regulation of authorized alternatives. The company agrees with major Canadian health groups on one fundamental principle—youth should not be using nicotine products of any kind.
Where perspectives diverge is on the primary driver of youth access and the effectiveness of current policies. Recent government data does not suggest that pharmacists are selling Health Canada-authorized nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) to minors. These regulated products, like Zonnic, are marketed responsibly as smoking cessation aids, sold exclusively behind pharmacy counters with mandatory age verification and pharmacist oversight.
Illegal Products Operate Without Safeguards
In stark contrast, the illegal nicotine pouch market operates completely outside any protective measures. These unregulated products:
- Are not authorized for sale in Canada
- Face no age verification requirements
- Are widely available through online platforms and informal retail channels
- Have no product standards or quality controls
- Operate with zero retail accountability
This critical distinction matters profoundly when formulating effective public health policy. Not all nicotine pouches are equivalent—authorized NRTs exist within a controlled framework designed for adult smoking cessation, while illicit products flood the market without any safeguards.
Interpreting Limited Data with Caution
The commentary cites survey data from 2023 and 2024 suggesting limited use and success rates for nicotine pouches in quit attempts. However, this data was collected less than a year after the first authorized nicotine pouch became available in Canada, when illicit products dominated the market. Such early findings should be interpreted cautiously, particularly when the majority of products available were unregulated.
Furthermore, testimonials from adult smokers who successfully quit using authorized products like Zonnic are overwhelmingly positive. Many healthcare professionals acknowledge that having innovative NRT options available proves invaluable for adult smokers attempting to quit—especially considering that, according to the same data referenced, approximately 87 percent of smokers who used these products generally were unsuccessful in their quit attempts.
The path forward requires recognizing that the illegal market represents the true threat to youth protection. Strong enforcement against these unregulated products, combined with sensible regulation of authorized alternatives, offers the most promising approach to both safeguard young Canadians and support adult smokers in their cessation journeys.
