dmvwordsmith wrote:jeez, ppl are fairly aggressive and uptight about tobacco. I used to be the same way, until I tried cigars/pipes.

most of the pp seem to be against tobacco but don't realize that not all tobacco is made alike. cigarettes are very different from pipe tobacco, as are cigars. ask anyone who smokes the latter two.

most of cigarettes have additives that are toxic, carcinogenic, etc. tobacco no matter the type, isn't GOOD for you, but in moderation it won't kill you, nor is it very addictive.

Cigarettes, on the other hand, I will always avoid due to the heavy additives and addictive nature. I'm gonna go smoke my pipe now

Enjoy your oral cancer from your cigar, pipe, and smokeless tobacco.

http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/002965-pdf.pdf

http://whyquit.com/whyquit/seanmarsee.html

Nicotine is very addictive. They've done studies with cocaine addicts who also quit smoking. Smoking was harder to quit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My body my desicions...

I can say the same about heroine.

who's she?

Get rid of sugar, fatty foods and regulate portions. Then the fatties won't cost the health system so much.

Lobbyist

Anonymous wrote:My body my desicions...

I can say the same about heroine.

Anonymous wrote:Prohibition.

And what would you do, lock up all the people who are now addicted?

Seriously. Let's fill the jails with smokers. Good plan.

Prohibition.

And what would you do, lock up all the people who are now addicted?

Becauase it is a taxable vice.

jeez, ppl are fairly aggressive and uptight about tobacco. I used to be the same way, until I tried cigars/pipes.

most of the pp seem to be against tobacco but don't realize that not all tobacco is made alike. cigarettes are very different from pipe tobacco, as are cigars. ask anyone who smokes the latter two.

most of cigarettes have additives that are toxic, carcinogenic, etc. tobacco no matter the type, isn't GOOD for you, but in moderation it won't kill you, nor is it very addictive.

Cigarettes, on the other hand, I will always avoid due to the heavy additives and addictive nature. I'm gonna go smoke my pipe now

Alcohol and marijuana give an immediate buzz with the first try. Tobacco is actually revoltingthe first time, seems to me you have to go out of your way to get hooked on tobacco, but that will eventually happen if you smoke. So it is not a bad idea to make it illegal to pick the first one up.

"But this argument could also be used for completely banning cars, airplanes and a whole host of other things. They affect us all, especially if you live in an urban environment."

But there is a big difference between tobacco and all the other things you mentioned, in terms of hazard. Tobacco smoke is extremely toxic, right up there with things like asbestos and arsenic. It's very different from for example alcohol.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is alcohol legal? Ever heard of AA?

Why are prescription pain killers legal? Ever heard of NA?

Why is cholesterol legal? The leading cause of death is heart disease, not lung disease!
- Why is oil legal? Cheese? Cream?

Cheese or cream? This is so stupid. It's such a stupid "argument" when people compare tobacco to "bad" foods and other things in an effort to draw a comparison or parallel. There is no other legal substance that is anything remotely like tobacco. Tobacco is in a league of its own. There is no (legal) substance in this country that is even close to tobacco in terms of the adverse health effects and toxicity.

Cheese, alcohol, etc. are all totally fine in moderation. Tobacco is not. That's one way to spot the difference.

I don't agree that alcohol is "totally fine" in moderation. And I also think that the issue with alcohol is that a lot of people simply CANNOT drink it in moderation. Any substance that impairs your decision making is difficult to do "in moderation" b/c as soon as you start, you aren't objectively able to assess what is past the point of moderation.

I'm not disagreeing that alcohol can impair your decision-making skills, but for many people, having a glass of wine with dinner doesn't impair their judgment to the point where they are not able to safely drive a car. I agree that many people do not drink in moderation. I personally am entirely capable of having a glass of wine (or even TWO glasses of wine) at a 3 hour dinner with friends and then safely driving home. Please don't make it seem like the second a drop of alcohol touches a person's lips they become a maniac unable to understand what "moderation" and "safety" are.

Anonymous wrote:"But if someone wants to sit in their home and smoke all day, I really can't see a justification for that being a crime."

I agree with your general thought, but the unique thing about tobacco use is that if somebody were smoking in their home all day, and their kids were there for example, they would be affected too. The smoke that goes everywhere is the problem. If it were something that only affected the user, it would be different.

OP is a busy body. These same type of busy bodies brought us Prohibition. That worked out well.

What is it legal for idiots to post on DCUM. I see nothing good about it.

Anonymous wrote:"But if someone wants to sit in their home and smoke all day, I really can't see a justification for that being a crime."

I agree with your general thought, but the unique thing about tobacco use is that if somebody were smoking in their home all day, and their kids were there for example, they would be affected too. The smoke that goes everywhere is the problem. If it were something that only affected the user, it would be different.

But this argument could also be used for completely banning cars, airplanes and a whole host of other things. They affect us all, especially if you live in an urban environment.

I think that campaigns against smoking have been very effective. And in a rational society, that is the best way to discourage undesirable behavior -- not to make it illegal, but to do your best to persuade people not to engage in it.

Prohibition simply does not work. It didn't work with alcohol. It doesn't seem to be working with drugs. I think to make tobacco illegal now might actually reverse some of the progress that has been made in discouraging people to quit.