Nicotine pouches are now restricted to pharmacies. Former smokers say that's making it harder to quit

Flavoured nicotine pouches are now only available for purchase in Canada from a pharmacist — but some former smokers say the new national regulations also make it harder for adults to reach a product that was helping them quit cigarettes.

"I think the government should be doing whatever they can to limit youth from getting addicted to nicotine, whether it's nicotine pouches, vaping products or tobacco products in general," said 29-year old Zach Laing, a former cigarette smoker who uses the pouches.

"The legislation here … is just taking it a little bit too far," the Edmonton man said.

As of Wednesday, the federal government has banned the sale of the pouches in convenience stores, gas stations and online. It has also now completely recalled all fruity flavours — only mint is available for purchase from behind a pharmacy counter.

The move has been applauded by multiple national health organizations, from the Canadian Dental Association to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

They've argued that unlike other nicotine replacement therapies already on the market such as gum or patches, the pouches were being advertised and sold in a way that targeted youth — including those who had never smoked before.

Health Canada approved the pouches last summer, sold under the brand name Zonnic, to help people stop smoking, also known as cessation. The small white packets are placed between a person's cheek and gums. That method releases what doctors say is the nicotine equivalent of smoking multiple cigarettes, but without the cancer-causing chemicals.

"To me it always felt like the nicotine pouches were sort of the lesser of two evils," Laing said. "I've had a nicotine addiction for the last decade and I don't think that's necessarily something that's going to change anytime soon for me."

Laing, who has asthma, said he tried chewing tobacco, cigarettes and vaping before he started using the pouches.

"Right away, I really liked them. I mean, they didn't make me feel ill like tobacco products would at times," he said.

Todd Prochnau, an Alberta pharmacist who specializes in helping patients quit smoking, said there was an advantage to having pouches in convenience stores.

"That is where people are purchasing their cigarettes, so it allows them to perhaps make a less harmful decision," he said. 

Prochnau said patients need as much access as possible to any nicotine replacement product that is going to help them stop using cigarettes.

"The difference in harm is so significant that without having those products accessible, these patients are going to continue to smoke cigarettes, which is ultimately a flip of a coin if it will end up killing them or not," he said.