Mass. Candidate For Governor Promises To Legalize Flavored Zyns

I was scrolling through social media this ad popped up. Mike Minogue is running for governor of Massachusetts as a Republican. He used to run a big heart-pump company in Danvers. In the ad he says if he wins, he will let flavored Zyns be sold in regular stores again.

Zyn is that little white pouch people tuck between the lip and gum. There is no tobacco leaf in it. The nicotine comes from tobacco, but you are not chewing leaf like old dip. A lot of adults use it instead of cigarettes because there is no smoke and no spit.

Massachusetts passed a flavor ban in 2020. Regular stores cannot sell tobacco or nicotine products that taste like mint, fruit, chill, or anything that is not plain tobacco.

The plain one, Zyn Smooth, is still on a lot of shelves. The flavored ones are the problem. This year some local health boards told stores in towns like Grafton, Shrewsbury, and Peabody to pull Zyn Chill and even some Smooth packs. Shop owners say the rules keep changing and they get fined after the fact.

Minogue says that is too much government. He wants adults to buy the flavors they already use in other states. Health officials say flavors make it easier for kids to start. That is the whole argument in one sentence.

I just know a lot of people around here already use these pouches and drive out of state or hunt online for the ones they like. The Republican primary is today. Whoever wins that race then has to beat Governor Healey in November. If you use Zyn or sell it, this is one of those small rules that actually hits your wallet.