A cigarette dispenser useful for aiding a person to stop smoking utilizes a movable belt for the controlled dispensing of cigarettes. The belt has openings therein which sequentially expose the open ends of cartridge compartments containing cigarettes to permit the cigarettes to be dispensed one at a time. A timing unit in the dispenser locks movement of the belt for periods of time during which the smoker is not permitted to smoke. Actual advancement of the belt is effected by the smoker at his leisure after receiving a signal signifying the end of the non-smoking period. The timing unit is in a controlled central processing unit capable of progressively increasing the duration of non-smoking periods during the course of the quitting routine.