Dear Premier Smith,

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I am writing as an Alberta convenience store owner to sincerely thank you for your recent public comments and your letter to Mark Carney and the federal government calling for a reconsideration of the restrictions on nicotine pouch sales in convenience stores.

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Your leadership on this issue is both welcome and appreciated. Your position—that allowing adult smokers access to lower-risk alternatives through regulated retail channels is sound public health policy—reflects a common sense approach. It is encouraging to see a provincial leader recognize that harm reduction must be part of the conversation.

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As convenience store operators, we take great pride in our responsibility when it comes to selling age-restricted products. Every day, we enforce strict ID verification and comply with all applicable regulations. This is not simply a legal requirement—it is a standard we uphold as trusted members of our communities (and often as parents too).

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While this ban was supposed to protect youth, access to illegal and unregulated products in our communities has exploded. Meanwhile, responsible small businesses like mine have lost a legitimate source of revenue from a safe, and Health Canada approved product.

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Your willingness to advocate for a more balanced and common sense approach sends a strong message that small businesses matter and that public policy must be grounded in real-world outcomes. Your support for Alberta retailers during this time is both meaningful and deeply appreciated.

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Thank you again for your leadership and for standing up for common sense solutions that support both public health and small business.