Back in January, I started a grassroots movement calling for simple, logical, and coherent access to nicotine pouches in Canada.
This movement is already having a huge impact.
On March 2, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith wrote a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney supporting our campaign.
Smith wrote, “Restricting access to nicotine pouches creates barriers for adults who are actively trying to reduce or quit their nicotine consumption.”
I couldn’t agree more.
In just a few weeks, we now have thousands of followers across Canada, and dozens of Canadians have shared their stories on how nicotine pouches have helped them to cut down on smoking or even quit altogether.
But in these stories, Canadians have also shared that pouches are not as accessible as they should be.
They are only located at specific pharmacies, often with limited stock and limited opening hours.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, Health Minister Marjorie Michel, and the Government of Canada MUST listen to consumers and review the regulatory framework on pouches that was imposed in 2024.
If cigarettes are easy to buy, nicotine pouches should be even easier to access.
I Want My Pouches is calling on the federal government to allow nicotine pouches to be sold in regulated retail outlets, such as convenience stores and specialty retailers, rather than restricting access exclusively to pharmacies.
Provinces already have effective age-verification systems and regulatory frameworks in place for other nicotine products sold by retailers.
If the government wants to reduce smoking, then access to alternatives must be easier than access to cigarettes – not the other way around.
Canadians deserve policies grounded in reality, not bureaucracy.
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 Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.
And use our specialized petition tool to send an email straight to the Minister of Health calling for change.
Together, we can push for common-sense access for adults who are trying to quit smoking.
TJ Peric is a Royal Canadian Navy Veteran and the Founder and Spokesperson of I Want My Pouches
