Science Shouldn't Be Censored in the Nicotine Debate

RFK Jr. is right about nicotine pouches and it's time the public health system listened.

During his recent interview on Jovem Pan News in Brazil, RFK Jr. made his stance on nicotine pouches unmistakably clear. Around minute 18, he didn’t just defend their use—he stated outright that nicotine pouches are “probably the safest way to consume nicotine.” He pointed to science and research to back it up, framing the real issue as cigarettes, not just because of their impact on personal health, but the strain they continue to place on our healthcare system.

This is the clearest example to date of a high-ranking government official explaining the spectrum of risk between different nicotine and tobacco products in a public forum. 

While the media stays fixated on his personal pouch use, it’s refreshing to see an opinion formed beyond recycled talking points. Instead, RFK Jr. gave voice to millions of adults who’ve switched to smoke-free alternatives and simply want honest, balanced information—not fear-based spin. 

No one is saying nicotine pouches are for everyone. But for millions of adults who currently use more harmful forms of nicotine, they’re an alternative that fits into their lifestyle. They’re smoke-free, and don’t come with the risks of secondhand smoke or the social stigma of cigarettes. 

What’s frustrating is that instead of having honest conversations about the harm reduction potential of these products, some stakeholders choose to lump them in with everything bad about Big Tobacco. That’s lazy. And it erases the voices of everyday folks who are simply looking for modern, more flexible options. 

RFK Jr. gets that. His approach isn’t about promoting nicotine. It’s about respecting people. Trusting adults to make informed decisions, while making sure panels and policies reflect today’s world and not a fear-driven version of it from 20 years ago. 

Many experts who want to speak up in favor of these alternatives see the data, and see how the potential of these products is silenced or sidelined. That’s not how science should work. You can’t claim to be evidence-based while ignoring the evidence. You can’t talk public health while refusing to talk to the public who’s actually using these products.

The truth is, we need more transparency, not less. More voices at the table, not the same old echo chamber. It’s overdue. We think it's time to start listening and that grown adults who smoke deserve real choices—and real respect.  

RFK Jr.’s position isn't reckless. It’s responsible. It’s honest. And it’s a breath of fresh air in a conversation that’s long been clouded by outdated thinking and political fear. 

At the end of the day, most of us just want the truth. Not hype. Not hysteria. Just straight talk and the freedom to choose what works best for us.