BC restricting nicotine pouch sales to deter children and youth from using it

Chewing tobacco isn’t as popular as it once was. 

Now, an increasingly popular way to consume nicotine is through buccal nicotine pouches. 

Buccal refers to the cheek because typically these pouches are inserted between one’s gums and cheek in order to absorb the nicotine orally. 

On Wednesday, February 7th, the BC government announced that going forward, the sale of buccal nicotine pouches will be restricted to solely pharmacists—although, no prescription will be necessary. 

The Province says that this is in an effort to deter youths from using nicotine pouches. 

“Raising safe and healthy kids is our most important job. It is also a tough job,” said Premier David Eby. 

“Regulating addictive and harmful products can protect young people from peer pressure, advertising, or poor decisions.” 

“By putting addictive nicotine products behind the pharmacy counter, we can ensure these products are only sold to the people they’re intended for,” he continued. 

This new legislation is effective immediately and the Province hopes it will be enough of a deterrent for underage usage. 

The idea is that if someone, underage or not, has to go to a pharmacy for these pouches, this will reduce the number of people buying them because the pharmacist will advise them of the adverse health side effects and nicotine dependency.

According to the Province, nicotine is especially addictive in children and youth and it can affect memory, concentration, brain development, impulse control and cognitive/behavioural issues.

In the pouches some youths are using, the nicotine content in one pouch is the equivalent of three or four cigarettes. 

Because of this, it is easier to develop nicotine dependence.

This can cause withdrawal and cause symptoms such as headaches, shakes, dizziness and feelings of anxiety or depression.

They were designed to be consumed as a way of weaning an individual off other nicotine products such as cigarettes, however research is showing that they are being used recreationally by youths

BC says these products are relatively new to the Canadian market and currently there are very few restrictions on them. Thus, the Province says they are working with federal agencies and other provinces/territories to create the most responsible nicotine policies they can.

To buy buccal nicotine pouches from a pharmacist, an individual must be at least 19-years-old.