During National Non-Smoking Week 2026, Canadians are encouraged to make a difficult but essential resolution: quit smoking. That’s a good thing. But the tools to get there must be accessible, practical, and consistent.

My name is TJ Peric. I am a Royal Canadian Navy veteran and the founder of I Want My Pouches. Like many smokers, I tried to quit for nearly 20 years, on and off. Once, I managed to stay smoke-free for almost two years. But I relapsed, and I know all too well that willpower isn’t always enough.

Recently, I made a clear decision: to quit for good. I tried different approaches. Then I discovered nicotine pouches. For the first time, I found an option that truly worked for me. I’m not talking about a “miracle.” I’m talking about a tool that, for me, makes quitting more achievable.

And that’s where the absurdity begins.

In Canada, buying cigarettes is incredibly easy: convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores… everywhere. But getting nicotine pouches is much more complicated: pharmacies only, behind the counter, and often with very real barriers.

I’ve lived it.

I looked for a pharmacy that was supposed to sell them. I went, I waited… only to be told they didn’t carry them, even though they were listed as a retailer. I tried another one: this time, the product was available, but I still had to go through a conversation at the counter while other customers waited for their prescriptions. The result: what should be simple becomes discouraging, sometimes humiliating, and often ineffective.

Meanwhile, the most harmful product — cigarettes — can be purchased with almost no effort. This inconsistency is exactly why I founded I Want My Pouches.

Our request is reasonable and common sense: the federal government must allow adults to access nicotine pouches in the places where smokers already go. If the goal is truly to reduce smoking, then access to alternatives must be easier than access to cigarettes—not the other way around.

During National Non-Smoking Week 2026, it’s time to ask federal decision-makers a simple question: Why is it easier to buy the problem than to buy a solution?

Want to join the conversation? If you’ve tried nicotine pouches — or struggled to access them — share your story. Follow I Want My Pouches on social media and add your voice. Your experience matters, and together we can push for common-sense access for adults who are trying to quit smoking.

TJ Peric

Royal Canadian Navy Veteran

Founder and spokesperson, I Want My Pouches