British Columbia remains the only Canadian province permitting cigarette sales in drugstores, despite health concerns and calls for reform.
Ongoing Debate Over Tobacco Sales in Pharmacies
The continued sale of cigarettes in B.C. pharmacies has prompted criticism from public health advocates. Leo Levasseur, an anti-smoking campaigner from Sidney, questioned why the province allows tobacco products to be sold alongside cessation aids in places meant to promote health. Levasseur lost three family members to smoking-related diseases and has campaigned for over a decade to end tobacco sales in pharmacies.
Other provinces banned tobacco sales in pharmacies years ago, with Ontario taking action in 1994 and Manitoba following in 2013, making B.C. the last holdout. The issue was recently raised in the B.C. Legislature by Green Party MLA Rob Botterell, who criticised the government’s refusal to change policy despite acknowledging tobacco harms.
Botterell told the legislature that the health minister’s response was dismissive, highlighting a commitment to harm reduction policies without altering the current sales framework. Health Minister Josie Osborne defended the policy, stating that pharmacies play a crucial role in smoking cessation by providing support and access to cessation aids. Osborne also cited legal settlements from tobacco companies as funding sources for health care in the province.
According to Osborne, B.C. boasts the lowest smoking rates in Canada, a point she used to justify maintaining the status quo regarding cigarette sales in drugstores.
Rising Concerns About Youth Nicotine Use
While cigarette smoking rates decline, health advocates warn that youth vaping is a growing problem across Canada. A Statistics Canada report found that 15% of students in grades 7 to 12 had vaped in the previous 30 days during a 2023-2024 survey, with the figure rising to 27% among Grade 12 students. These rates exceed overall national nicotine use levels among Canadians aged 15 and older.
Les Hagen, executive director of Action on Smoking and Health, told reporters that nicotine use among Canadians aged 25 and under has risen substantially, creating new challenges for public health. Hagen emphasised that vaping can initiate nicotine addiction pathways in the brain, increasing the likelihood of cigarette smoking.
Rob Cunningham, senior policy analyst at the Canadian Cancer Society, noted vaping’s popularity among youth is partly due to its lower cost and availability of flavoured products, which are not subject to the same health warnings and packaging regulations as cigarettes. Social media promotion also contributes to vaping’s appeal among young people.
Michael Chaiton, an associate professor at the University of Toronto, highlighted that e-cigarettes carry health risks, particularly related to respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, despite ongoing research into their long-term effects.
The consensus among health organisations is to adopt stricter regulations on vaping products, aligning them more closely with tobacco controls. Proposed measures include flavour bans, enhanced health warnings, restrictions on online sales, and higher taxes.
The criticism was immediate, with prominent voices weighing in. Les Hagen shared his perspective on the need for urgent action on X, writing:
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Government and Public Health Responses
Health Canada maintains that vaping products can aid smokers in quitting cigarettes if used exclusively. However, many experts and advocacy groups argue that current regulations do not adequately prevent youth uptake of vaping.
The federal government has set a target to reduce tobacco use to less than five per cent of the population by 2035, a goal supported by many health organisations. The recent roundtable on tobacco and nicotine reduction reaffirmed this ambition and proposed further measures to address emerging challenges from vaping.
Meanwhile, B.C.’s position as the last province permitting cigarette sales in pharmacies draws ongoing scrutiny. Critics argue the policy sends mixed messages about tobacco use and public health, particularly given the province’s investments in smoking cessation programs.
Advocates like Levasseur call for consistent policies that do not allow tobacco products to be sold alongside health-promoting services.
Context and Background
Tobacco consumption remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in Canada, with cigarette smoke containing more than 70 known carcinogens. Smoking is linked to a range of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Canada has made considerable progress in reducing smoking rates over the past decades. However, the rise of vaping has complicated the landscape, particularly among younger populations.
Pharmacies, as healthcare settings, traditionally provide smoking cessation aids such as nicotine replacement therapy and counselling. The sale of cigarettes in these venues has long been contested as contradictory to their health mission.
