We have long known the harmful effects of tobacco, and smokers face increasing societal pressure to quit. As part of the anti-tobacco movement, many locations that used to sell tobacco products such as cigarettes have stopped. CVS, Costco, and Target are just some of the places moving away from tobacco. Whole Foods has a reputation as a health-focused grocery store, so it is no surprise that they have also decided to avoid tobacco products. You will not find tobacco in a single Whole Foods location and haven’t in nearly forty years.
Tobacco Products at Whole Foods
Whole Foods does not carry tobacco products, including cigarettes.
Why?
The reason according to founder Mackey is that it doesn’t fit with Whole Foods’ image to sell such an unhealthy product. Cigarettes particularly include many harmful additives in addition to the tobacco itself. Considering that public opinion of cigarettes has only gotten more negative over the years, this stance is unlikely to change.
Did Whole Foods Ever Sell Cigarettes?
At one point, a single store in Dallas, Texas sold American Spirit cigarettes. However, public outcry quickly reversed that decision, and the company never tried to dip its toes into the tobacco market again. Cigarettes have not been found in any Whole Foods store since 1986.
Where Can You Buy Cigarettes?
Instead of buying cigarettes at Whole Foods, you can instead buy them from gas stations, tobacco shops, drug stores, and other similar places. If you are trying to save money, you can roll your own cigarettes. All you need is cigarette paper, a machine, and loose tobacco.
Tobacco
You will need to buy loose tobacco from a smoke shop, but it will be much cheaper than cigarettes.
Papers
Cigarette papers and other similar products can be bought on Amazon, and delivered to your door.
Rolling Machine
The rolling machine can be cheap or expensive, depending on your preference. Manual machines are usually cheaper, while automatic electric machines can be more costly. Either way, you will quickly make back the money you spend on the machine by avoiding premade cigarette prices. Rolling machines of all price points can be found on Amazon, or in some smoke shops.
Does Whole Foods Sell Aids to Stop Smoking?
Yes, Whole Foods sells products meant to help you stop smoking. The most popular is a 30-day program called Smokers Cleanse Lung Support Formula. This product contains three pill types, each designed to be taken at a different time of day. It is of note that none of these pills contain tobacco or extracts from the tobacco plant.
Summary
True to their values, you will not find tobacco products in Whole Foods’ locations. They do however sell products to help you quit. If you want to buy cigarettes, you will need to visit a tobacco store, gas station, or drug store instead. If you are interested in rolling your own cigarettes, you can buy the supplies to do so (except the tobacco) on Amazon.
