Should We Ban Tobacco?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

from the OP...

But with all of the good intentions in the world, outlawing cigarettes would be just as disastrous as the prohibition on other drugs. After all, people would still smoke, just as they still use other drugs that are prohibited, from marijuana to cocaine. But now, in addition to the harm of smoking, we would find a whole range of "collateral consequences" that come along with prohibition.

A huge number of people who smoke would continue to do so, but now they would be considered criminals. We would have parents promising their kids that they will stop smoking but still sneaking a smoke.

We would have smokers hiding their habit and smoking in alleys and dark corners, afraid of being caught using the illegal substance. We would have cops using precious time and resources to hassle and arrest cigarette smokers. Our prison overcrowding crisis would rise to an unprecedented level with "addicts" and casual cigarette smokers alike getting locked up.

We would have a black market, with outlaws taking the place of delis and supermarkets and stepping in to meet the demand and provide the desired drug.

Instead of buying your cigarettes in a legally sanctioned place, you would have to hit the streets to pick up your fix. The cigarette trade would provide big revenue to "drug dealers," just as illegal drugs do today. There would be shootouts in the streets and killings over the right to sell the prohibited tobacco plant.

We have tried prohibiting cigarettes in some state prisons, like in California, and we have seen that smoking continues, with cigarettes traded illicitly. There is a violent black market that fills the void and leads to unnecessary deaths over access and the inflated profits.

Luckily, no one is proposing making cigarettes illegal.

[Peikko 1,575]

No, it will not work. Keep on with the education programs. Most people do now know that smoking tobacco is bad for their health (In the US, the tobacco companies have moved to bigger and less educated markets) even if they do pick the roulette wheel choice of 'it will not happen to me'.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Banning tobacco would be fun to do, just to watch my smoker friends go hysterical.

But it would also be wrong.

[Peikko 1,575]

I think the argument is, if we allow such dangerous and health damaging drugs as tobacco to be sold legally, the same should apply to the drugs that are currently illegal - or perhaps merely a decriminalization argument - not sure.

[natty bumppo 297]

from the OP...

But with all of the good intentions in the world, outlawing cigarettes would be just as disastrous as the prohibition on other drugs.

After all, people would still smoke, just as they still use other drugs that are prohibited, from marijuana to cocaine. But now, in addition to the harm of smoking, we would find a whole range of "collateral consequences" that come along with prohibition.

A huge number of people who smoke would continue to do so, but now they would be considered criminals. We would have parents promising their kids that they will stop smoking but still sneaking a smoke.

We would have smokers hiding their habit and smoking in alleys and dark corners, afraid of being caught using the illegal substance. We would have cops using precious time and resources to hassle and arrest cigarette smokers. Our prison overcrowding crisis would rise to an unprecedented level with "addicts" and casual cigarette smokers alike getting locked up.

We would have a black market, with outlaws taking the place of delis and supermarkets and stepping in to meet the demand and provide the desired drug.

Instead of buying your cigarettes in a legally sanctioned place, you would have to hit the streets to pick up your fix. The cigarette trade would provide big revenue to "drug dealers," just as illegal drugs do today. There would be shootouts in the streets and killings over the right to sell the prohibited tobacco plant.

We have tried prohibiting cigarettes in some state prisons, like in California, and we have seen that smoking continues, with cigarettes traded illicitly. There is a violent black market that fills the void and leads to unnecessary deaths over access and the inflated profits.

Luckily, no one is proposing making cigarettes illegal.

*re-releases catch ... resets hook with different bait*

[The_Dude 1,142]

I think it's a slippery slope when your government begins to decide what you can and cannot do in the privacy of your own home. That being said, smoking has a public health component to it. I can agree with the smoking bans in public buildings and things of that nature. The government should be looking into heavier taxes on cigarettes so that they can at least pay for their self inflicted medical needs in the future. I do believe the numbers as to how many people die each year as a result tobacco use. To dismiss them is just plain ignorance.

Smoking cigarettes is one of the dumbest things you can do. You smoke it, and take on all the inherent health risks for what? You don't get any tangible effects from it. At least smoking pot, you get high.

[Jenn! 918]

I think the article fails to consider the other dangers of illegal drugs aside from the health risks. Sure, tobacco may kill more people than heroine does annually, but there are more tobacco users than heroine users. Neither does it consider the behaviors associated with the use of the various substances. Alcohol is more easily compared to cocaine, for example, than tobacco is. In other words, risk of death to the user is not the only reason that most drugs are illegal, in fact, it's probably not a reason at all.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Interesting.

In the 17th century, the colonists income in the Virginia Settlement were primarily tobacco. I think tobacco is one of those things that can't be banned because it is pretty much the livelihood of American economy.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I think it's a slippery slope when your government begins to decide what you can and cannot do in the privacy of your own home. That being said, smoking has a public health component to it. I can agree with the smoking bans in public buildings and things of that nature. The government should be looking into heavier taxes on cigarettes so that they can at least pay for their self inflicted medical needs in the future. I do believe the numbers as to how many people die each year as a result tobacco use. To dismiss them is just plain ignorance.

Smoking cigarettes is one of the dumbest things you can do. You smoke it, and take on all the inherent health risks for what? You don't get any tangible effects from it. At least smoking pot, you get high.

Teenagers are some of the dumbest creatures on earth.

[Jenn! 918]

You smoke it, and take on all the inherent health risks for what? You don't get any tangible effects from it.

Smokers would definitely disagree with that.

[The_Dude 1,142]

You smoke it, and take on all the inherent health risks for what? You don't get any tangible effects from it.

Smokers would definitely disagree with that.

You smoke it to satisfy a craving. You don't feel any euphoria or a "high".

[Jenn! 918]

You smoke it, and take on all the inherent health risks for what? You don't get any tangible effects from it.

Smokers would definitely disagree with that.

You smoke it to satisfy a craving. You don't feel any euphoria or a "high".

But nicotine has mood-altering effects. No, it's not euphoric, but you can't say there are no tangible effects, there certainly are.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Smoking helps me to avoid my natural instinct to kill you all.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

You smoke it, and take on all the inherent health risks for what? You don't get any tangible effects from it.

Smokers would definitely disagree with that.

You smoke it to satisfy a craving. You don't feel any euphoria or a "high".

But nicotine has mood-altering effects. No, it's not euphoric, but you can't say there are no tangible effects, there certainly are.

Buy the gum. It's a much better delivery system, and you don't offend your neighbors.

Edited August 4, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[Otto 83]

Smoking helps me to avoid my natural instinct to kill you all.