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