Health Canada is twisting itself into pretzels to try and justify keeping nicotine pouches out of convenience stores and behind pharmacy counters.

Testifying at committee, Deputy Health Minister Greg Orencsak admitted that Health Canada originally approved nicotine pouches because they were a “less harmful” alternative to smoking cigarettes.

Under questioning, Orencsak also said that Health Canada was committed to helping smokers in Canada find ways to quit smoking.

And yet Health Canada is standing foursquare behind former health minister Mark Holland’s ministerial order to keep nicotine pouches out of convenience stores and ensure that those looking for this effective smoking cessation tool have to go to a pharmacy in order to get it.

That’s despite the fact that convenience stores

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