Toronto, Ontario – October 28, 2024 – Rights4Vapers, Canada’s largest vapers’ rights and safer nicotine advocacy movement, has found that flavoured vapour products can be purchased easily in the province, there is a thriving black market, and there is no doubt the same thing will happen in the rest of the country if a full nationwide ban is imposed.

“We have a very simple two step solution for the minister,” said Maria Papaioannoy, spokesperson for Rights4Vapers. “First step: enforce existing laws. Second step: don’t ban flavours.”

The Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, said that she wanted to learn from the Quebec experience before banning flavoured vapour products nationwide. Rights4Vapers wanted to see what the market was like.

“It was very easy to find underground retailers who were more than willing to sell us every flavour imaginable at nicotine strengths that exceed the national maximums,” said Ms. Papaioannoy. “In less than an hour we had purchased a bag full of illegal products.”

This spring over 37,000 Canadians wrote to Minister Saks expressing their opposition to a flavour ban.

Flavours have become one of the most controversial areas of the vaping debate. The role of flavours in vaping products is complex. People who smoke have said that flavours give them a reason to switch from the traditional cigarette. Having a less-harmful alternative that does not taste like burnt tobacco is critical for smokers to initially make the switch and stick with it. Restricting access to these flavours would hurt adults who are looking to quit smoking.

“If the flavour ban goes through. We can guarantee a few things. Flavours will continue to be available in Canada. They won’t be regulated, safe or taxed. Many of those who vape will find a way, as the alternative is likely the resumption of inhaling toxic cigarette smoke. The criminals operating the vaping black market will prosper. People who smoke but could have found vaping a viable alternative will continue smoking and dying,” said Ms. Papaioannoy.

Vapour products are the best hope for hundreds of thousands of Canadians who smoke and are looking for an alternative to cigarettes. In 2021, Public Health England released its latest review of vapour studies. It found that “the best thing that a smoker can do is to stop smoking completely and the evidence shows that vaping is one of the most effective quit aids available, helping around 50,000 smokers quit a year.”

To view our undercover report: https://youtu.be/g-TifGZaKVQ

For more information, please contact: Rights4Vapers: media@rights4vapers.com