Can You Buy Tobacco Online in California?


Please be aware that we have temporarily suspended all sales in California.

The number of tobacco users converting to smoke-free, oral tobacco alternatives has been growing exponentially. In fact, according to the US Center of Disease Control (CDC), nearly 2 in every 100 people in California use smokeless tobacco products. 

With the changes in legislation coming into play, we cover all you need to know about the future of oral tobacco now that Proposition 31 has passed in California. 

 

Flavored Tobacco Ban in California

The passing of Proposition 31 prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products (including fruit and menthol) in California. 

 

It is important to note that in California:

  • Oral tobacco products can only be purchased by individuals who are 21 years of age or older.
  • Tobacco products are not allowed to be sold in vending machines or self-service displays (to make sure they are not accessible to minors).
  • As of 21st December 2022, you can only buy unflavored tobacco products in physical stores. The same rules now apply to online retailers like us.
  • As with any product that contains nicotine, it is important to use oral tobacco products responsibly.

Best Snus in California

Currently, the most popular snus brands among Californians are General and Camel. 


General


General snus is one of the original Swedish snus brands and is still a firm favorite among users. It has grown in popularity in the US and comes in 4 varieties:

 

 

Camel


Camel Snus is a premium snus brand exclusively sold in the US that comes in slim pouches with 5 flavors to choose from:

 

 

Swedish Snus vs American Snus

So, what is the difference between Swedish snus (such as General) and American snus (such as Camel)? 

 

  • Variety of Product: Swedish snus comes in a smorgasbord of flavors, whereas American snus is more of a designer product with fewer options.
  • Portion Size: Swedish snus portions significantly larger than American snus portions.
  • Flavor: American snus is sweeter and has less of a tobacco flavor than Swedish snus. 
    Nicotine Strength. American snus is not usually stronger than 4mg of nicotine per pouch, but Swedish snus has high levels of nicotine (up to 45mg/g). 

 

Top 5 Chewing Tobacco in California

So, which chewing tobacco is most popular in California?

 

1. Red Man Original

2. Beech-Nut Wintergreen

3. Stokers Wintergreen

4. Red Man Golden Blend

5. Oliver Twist Original

 

Top 5 Snuff and Dip Tobacco in California

The most popular snuff and dip tobacco products in California are:

 

1. Timber Wolf Peach Pouches

2. Skoal Berry Pouches

3. Copenhagen Southern Blend Long Cut

4. Grizzly Natural Extra Long Cut

5. Longhorn Natural Pouches

 

Tobacco in California FAQ

  • Since December 2022, a ban on buying flavored tobacco products in physical stores has been in place. A similar ban is now enforced for online retailers like us, meaning you can only buy unflavored tobacco products online too. For further questions on the laws where you live, contact your local authorities.

  • California has State Excise Tax (SET) as well as sales tax. SET applies to tobacco products and is calculated one of the following ways:

    • Based on a % of wholesale price (cost) to Northerner
    • Based on the selling price to the custome
    • Based on weight per selling unit

  • Yes, General snus is Swedish. It is produced in Sweden and imported to the US.


Please be aware that we have temporarily suspended all sales in California.