Let’s Get To The Bottom Of The Controversy Around Something Called ‘Zyn’
Some say it needs more regulation and others want to government to back off.
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Subscribe for free to get more stories like this directly to your inboxIf you’re a user of the brand’s nicotine pouches or you’ve just noticed them displayed behind the counter at a convenience store, you probably know what Zyn is … but for many others, the first introduction came amid a political debate that has heated up in recent days.
Whether you’re worried about its availability going forward or just wondering what all the fuss is about, we’ll help you get up to speed.
Who is arguing?
In much the same way that vape pens claimed to offer a less harmful alternative to smoking cigarettes, Zyn nicotine pouches are widely seen as a preferable option compared to chewing tobacco.
And just like vaping sparked concerns about young people becoming addicted, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has been pointing to so-called “Zynfluencers” who have recruited new users via social media and “have made nicotine pouches a part of their online personalities."
Several prominent Republicans have pushed back against efforts to further regulate the product through federal agencies, as Schumer and some Democrats have recommended.
But a few Democrats have also rejected such measures, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who noted: “Tobacco is legal and that kills over half a million Americans. Alcohol is legal and it kills lots of people.”
What could happen?
While Fetterman is clearly against making Zyn illegal, that’s not what Schumer is recommending … at least not yet. Instead, he wants to explore new regulations that could be implemented by the Federal Trade Commission and/or the Food and Drug Administration.
We don’t yet know what shape such regulations might take, but it’s worth looking at how the vape industry and others have been treated in the past.
Those measures have included limiting advertisements as well as restricting packaging and flavor options in hopes of reducing underage use.
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