A campaign calling on the provincial government to restore nicotine pouches in convenience stores has been launched. Introduced by the advocacy group, “I Want My Pouches,” the campaign aims to urge Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill to pressure the federal government to restore access for those who want to quit smoking. In 2024, the federal government banned the sale of nicotine pouches in convenience stores, something the group says has made legal access “unnecessarily difficult for adults who want to quit smoking, particularly in rural and remote communities.” The group also claims the ban has allowed the illegal market to gain control over nicotine pouch sales, as federal restrictions limited the sale exclusively to pharmacies. “If cigarettes are available at the local convenience store, it makes no sense to force someone who is trying to quit smoking to travel long distances to access nicotine pouches,” TJ Peric, spokesperson for I Want My Pouches, said in news release published on Thursday. The group said the issue is not about removing safeguards, it’s about access, as it believes nicotine pouches should still remain restricted to adults and sold under age-control requirements. Ads in support of the campaign will run on social media and digital platforms across the province over the coming weeks, according to the group.
