By Timothy S. Donahue

Top Takeaways:

• Loophole targeted: Senate Bill 1571 would redefine nicotine pouches as tobacco products under Oregon law, banning sales to those under 21.
• Online sales provision removed: An earlier proposal to prohibit online tobacco sales was stripped from the amended version.
• House next: The bill passed the Senate 26–1 and now heads to the Oregon House for consideration.

Discreet, flavored, and widely used — nicotine pouches are now squarely in Oregon’s legislative crosshairs.

The Oregon Senate voted 26–1 on Friday to pass Senate Bill 1571, legislation intended to close what supporters call a loophole that allows youth access to nicotine pouch products.

Sponsored by Sen. Lisa Reynolds, the bill redefines tobacco products under Oregon law to include nicotine pouches, aligning state law with federal law and prohibiting sales to anyone under 21. Currently, nicotine pouches are not defined as tobacco products under Oregon law, so retailers can sell them without tobacco licenses.

“Enter this loophole product: Nicotine pouches that people can tuck into their teeth and lips,” Reynolds said on the Senate floor. “The straight nicotine, which is quite addictive and understandable. They can be used anywhere, anytime, producing no smoke, odor or wax. This product is widely adapted, including by youth until you pass this bill.”

Supporters argue that because pouches produce no smoke or vapor, they are easier to conceal and therefore more accessible to minors than cigarettes or regulated vaping devices.

Brands such as Zyn have gained popularity in recent years. A University of Southern California study found that twice as many teens reported using nicotine pouch products in 2024 as in 2023. Researchers attributed some of that growth to the products’ discreet nature and the range of available flavors.

More than 70 individuals and organizations submitted written testimony, with the majority supporting the measure. Among them was Sarah Lochner, executive director of the Oregon Coalition of Local Health Officials.

“These are products that youth can use without teachers knowing; without parents knowing. ‘It’s just gum, mom.’ When was the last time you inspected your kids’ gum package? That’s why it’s so incredibly important to make sure these products are under the same regulations as cigarettes and vaping devices,” Lochner wrote.

The amended version of the bill passed unanimously in the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier in the week before clearing the full Senate, according to media reports.

The legislation initially included a provision banning all online tobacco sales in Oregon and requiring face-to-face transactions. That section was removed in the amended version, narrowing the bill’s scope to redefining nicotine pouches under existing tobacco statutes.

If approved by the House, the measure would require retailers selling nicotine pouches to comply with the same licensing and age-restriction requirements that apply to other tobacco products in Oregon.

The bill now moves to the Oregon House for consideration.