Congratulations on your election win.

I’m writing as a small business owner to ask you to help for convenience stores like mine. 

The former government’s decision last year to limit the sale of Health Canada approved nicotine pouches to pharmacies just doesn’t make sense. It hurts small retailers and makes it harder for adult smokers to access a Health Canada approved product that can help smokers quit.

Convenience stores already do a great job of making sure tobacco products and alcohol don’t get into the wrong hands. We check IDs, follow strict regulations, and take our responsibilities seriously. We can do the same for a proven and approved smoking cessation product like nicotine pouches.

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This restriction is unfair to both businesses and consumers. Taking a product off our shelves means lost sales at a time when small businesses are already dealing with rising costs. Plus, it forces people to go out of their way to get a product they should be able to buy at their local store. Since the restriction I continue to turn away smokers looking for nicotine pouches.  These consumers tell me they are now simply buying illegally online or have gone back to smoking. 

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I’m asking you to commit to reversing this decision and letting convenience stores sell nicotine pouches again.

Sincerely,