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# Mike Minogue Says Flavored Zyn Should Be Legal In Massachusetts
- URL: https://www.newbostonpost.com/mike-minogue-flavored-zyn-legal-massachusetts/
- Published: 2026-09-01T19:43:17.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-02T19:37:53.000Z
- Description: Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue says flavored Zyn nicotine pouches should be legal in Massachusetts, despite the state's flavored tobacco ban.
- Author: State House News Service
- Tags: News, Politics, Massachusetts, Mike Minogue, #lead, #morning-bell, morning-bell, #4

Colin A. Young  
State House News Service

Republican Mike Minogue said on social media this weekend that, if elected governor, he would at least partially peel back Massachusetts's six-year-old ban on flavored tobacco products. 

"As governor, I will allow the sale of flavored Zyns here in Massachusetts," the candidate says in a short form video, referring to nicotine pouches that are particularly popular with young men. "Right now, people drive over the border to New Hampshire to buy them. It's a simple step of deregulation. It's more freedom for you. I'll allow it. Let's go."

Actually allowing the sale of flavored Zyn pouches – which appear to fall under the ban by virtue of a definition of tobacco product that includes products "containing or made or derived from tobacco or nicotine that is intended for human consumption" – may be more difficult than the "simple step of deregulation" the candidate described. 

Because the governor controls the Executive Branch, the corner office often has the ability to shape state regulations to its liking. But the flavored tobacco ban exists in statute – the Legislature and Republican Gov. Charlie Baker in 2019 made Massachusetts the first state in the country to prohibit the retail sale of flavored vaping products and flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes.

Minogue's campaign did not provide an answer to the question of how he would make good on his pledge to allow the sale of flavored Zyns here. His campaign provided a statement in which Minogue said he "trust\[s\] Massachusetts adults to make their own decisions. My goal as Governor is to bring common-sense solutions back to Beacon Hill, respect personal freedom, and stop exporting our economy to other states." 

State public health officials said earlier this year that reports showed the state smoking rate had declined by 1.37 percentage points and residents had avoided more than $70 million in health care expenses since the flavored tobacco ban took effect. 

The Massachusetts Illicit Tobacco Task Force also found this month that combined tobacco and vape excise tax revenues have declined approximately 41% between fiscal year 2019 and fiscal 2025, but noted that it "cannot identify any single reason" for the drop.