BC Drugstores Still Sell Death Sticks: A Moral Outrage

British Columbia is the last remaining province in Canada that allows drugstores to sell cigarettes, a practice prohibited in all other provinces and territories since 1994. Anti-smoking advocate Leo Levasseur has long campaigned against this, questioning the ethical implications of pharmacies receiving public funds for smoking cessation programs while still selling tobacco products. He argues it is contradictory for these establishments to promote quitting while continuing to stock cigarettes.

During a recent legislative session, MLA Rob Botterell raised this issue, criticizing the Health Minister's response as dismissive. Health Minister Josie Osborne reiterated the province's commitment to lowering smoking rates, emphasizing the role of pharmacists in providing cessation support and noting that B.C. has the lowest smoking rate in Canada. She also mentioned a substantial $3.7 billion settlement from tobacco companies, which is being invested in healthcare, including smoking cessation initiatives.

The College of Pharmacists of British Columbia previously considered a ban in 2014 but abandoned the initiative after facing opposition from retail pharmacies. The college has since stated it is open to regulatory changes if the provincial government is interested. London Drugs, a major pharmacy chain, acknowledged the harms of smoking and stated they believe tobacco should only be sold in settings with healthcare support, asserting that their stores offer pharmacists and cessation resources alongside tobacco sales. They expressed concern that removing tobacco from pharmacies might reduce intervention opportunities.