[hairama]

This could mean that they're moving the cigarettes from the pharmacy proper, to the regular retail area--with a healthy amount of spin.

[jack-r-abbit]

I'm pretty sure they've always been behind the checkout counter. Most (all?) stores that sell smokes keep them somewhat guarded to prevent people (particularly minors) from stealing them.

[dragonwriter]

The only thing in the pharmacy proper are controlled (mostly prescription, but their are a few non-prescription pharmacy-counter-only) drugs.

[MBCook]

Cigarettes aren't in the pharmacy area of my local CVSes, they're at the front of the store behind the regular cashier.