Conservative MP Stephen Ellis has condemned federal Liberals’ new regulation that bans nicotine pouches from convenience stores, where cigarettes and alcohol are sold.
Ellis’s comments come one month after Liberal Minister Mark Holland banned nicotine pouches from convenience stores, gas stations, and online retailers.
Ellis stated on social media that the Liberals’ ban on the products is “the height of hypocrisy.”
He added, “This radical NDP-Liberal government is handing out deadly taxpayer funded opioids to those suffering from addiction while cracking down on Canadian adults who want to access and use smoking cessation products,” he added.
The Conservative MP advocated for adults to have freedom of choice on the matter.
Health Canada has expressed concern about the appeal of nicotine pouches to youth. Matthew Kronberg, a spokesperson for Holland’s office, echoed this concern through a statement on Friday, stating that the decision to ban nicotine pouches was primarily driven by concerns over “the increasing popularity and recreational use of these products among youth.”
Ellis acknowledged the concern of underaged kids getting into the products, but said the same logic applies to cigarettes and alcohol.
Health Minister rejects Nicotine pouches despite legalizing fentanyl
Despite his strong opposition to nicotine pouches, Holland has promoted “safe supply” programs that legalize the distribution and use of substances like fentanyl and heroin.
