Taxes

Push grows to tax nicotine pouches like tobacco as use surges

‘It really is a public health disaster in the making.’
Containers of Zyn, a smokeless nicotine pouch, are displayed for sale among other nicotine and tobacco products at a newsstand on Feb. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)

Governors and lawmakers in at least five states have proposed raising taxes on nicotine pouches, saying novel products such as Zyn, On! and Velo are addictive, harmful and should be taxed and regulated like tobacco. 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, both Democrats, have proposed new excise taxes on nicotine pouches. Massachusetts lawmakers are also weighing a new tax, while Vermont lawmakers are considering a tax increase. 

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