What the report describes
Beyond Tobacco: The New Frontier of Illicit Nicotine Products in Canada, by Christian Leuprecht (Macdonald-Laurier Institute (Centre for North American Prosperity and Security), March 2026), describes an illicit nicotine market that has expanded beyond traditional contraband tobacco - - - high-nicotine disposable vapes, unauthorised nicotine pouches, and what the report characterises as online black-market platforms. The report frames fragmented regulation, uneven enforcement, and e-commerce as the conditions that have made room for those channels to expand. Read the full report (PDF).
The compliance-sweep finding
The report describes a compliance sweep across seven provinces, with non-compliance described as particularly visible in British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec. It also notes that online vendors may ship through unmarked parcel post with no age verification, and that public budgets take a hit when illicit products circulate.
How AB Choice reads the report
AB Choice has consistently argued that policy works best when it sits on top of rules adults can actually see being enforced. Beyond Tobacco's central observation - - - fragmented regulation, uneven enforcement, and e-commerce creating vulnerabilities - - - is the same point made the other way: the legal channel only holds together when enforcement is real.
Practical policy implications
Through an AB Choice lens, five implications follow:
- Age verification at every entry point. Adult-only sale only does its job when the same standard reaches online and parcel-post channels.
- Inspection capacity that matches the actual market. Inspectors need authority and budget to cover online listings and fulfilment, not just storefronts.
- Parcel-post and e-commerce enforcement. The report's e-commerce finding is specific; the response should be specific too.
- A working accountable legal retail channel. Carded, licensed retail is enforcement infrastructure - - - recognise it and protect it.
- Avoid displacement to unregulated supply. Calibrate restrictions on lawful adult products against enforcement capacity so demand does not migrate to the channel the report describes.
What this changes in coalition messaging
Going forward, when public conversation turns to flavour rules, display rules, or other measures aimed at the lawful adult market, the alliance will continue to point at the question the report makes hard to avoid: is enforcement against illicit supply moving in step? If it is not, additional restrictions on the legal channel are likely to underperform.
How to cite this report
Christian Leuprecht, Beyond Tobacco: The New Frontier of Illicit Nicotine Products in Canada, Macdonald-Laurier Institute (Centre for North American Prosperity and Security), March 2026. Local copy: beyond-tobacco-illicit-nicotine-products-canada.pdf.
Sources
- Christian Leuprecht, Beyond Tobacco: The New Frontier of Illicit Nicotine Products in Canada, Macdonald-Laurier Institute (Centre for North American Prosperity and Security), March 2026. Local PDF.
- Government of Canada, Tobacco and Vaping Products Act and related materials. Health Canada - - - Tobacco and vaping.
- Government of Alberta, Reducing smoking and vaping - - - rules and enforcement. alberta.ca.