Tobacco Should be Made Illegal
Many U.S. citizens nowadays insist that tobacco products should completely disappear from our marketplace. They call tobacco companies “the merchants of death”, and rightfully so. As tobacco manufacturers now face a decline in sales, due to the fact that people know more about the hazards of cigarettes and therefore smoke less, these corporate monsters come up with new exquisite ways to boost their sales and further spread disease. One of the tricks is to hide nicotine in seemingly harmless products.
Recently held National Conference on Tobacco or Health in Minneapolis discussed this new strategy of tobacco producers. During the Conference, University of Minnesota tobacco researcher Dorothy Hasukami described to more than 3,000 national anti-tobacco activists and experts his findings of a whole array of new nicotine-containing products on the market.
The most dangerous of the new products is snus, also known as spitless tobacco - small packets containing nicotine which can be easily held in the mouth. Tobacco marketers promote this product as being less harmful for health and containing less carcinogens that traditional cigars and cigarettes yet producing the same powerful “high” for users since it contains the same amount of nicotine.
Another invention of tobacco companies is a nicotine-containing lozenge that can be placed under the tongue just like cough drops.
Hookahs, or water pipes, are also promoted now as a safer way to use tobacco than conventional smoking. Hookah smokers think that tobacco smoke drawn through water is “cleaner”. However, the Conference experts successfully challenged this point of view by presenting evidence that tobacco used in hookahs actually is more dangerous because it contains more tar and more nicotine than tobacco used in cigarettes.
One more ?great? marketing idea of tobacco producers is to make small flavoured cigars, such as the Swishier or Winchester, and sell them to naive consumers who think that they are getting a “healthier” product. In 2006 alone, more than 4.5 billion of such cigars were sold in the U.S.
In view of the above, many anti-tobacco activists are wondering why tobacco giants, such as Philip Morris, are still allowed to sell their deadly stuff to U.S. consumers and make big profits. Tobacco products should be regarded as venom, which they are, and should be made illegal, just like contaminated food, opium, crystal meth, and other dangerous drugs and poisons.
According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco death toll accounts at 430,000 death cases a year, yet tobacco industry is still a highly profitable business in the country. Although a whole range of measures have been implemented in the recent decades to reduce smoking, such as information campaigns educating the U.S. population about hazards of tobacco, or laws prohibiting smoking in restaurants, offices, and other public areas, these measures are not sufficient enough. Tobacco companies are still thriving, and even major lawsuits against them have not diminished their profits.
Some U.S, citizens, including the participants of the Conference, proposed to take more drastic measures against tobacco corporations. Among the proposed steps are the following:
1. To impose a high tax on cigarettes, cigars, snus, and other tobacco products. Profits from the increased taxation should be directed to treat tobacco-related diseases. In addition, higher prices should further encourage consumers to quit smoking.
2. To introduce a law obliging tobacco producers to gradually decrease the amount of nicotine in their products.
3. After a ten-year period, to require tobacco corporations to stop producing tobacco-containing products.
Although such proposed measures seem to be fair, their opponents argue that increased tobacco taxation will have a very bad impact on poor and lower-middle-class Americans - the categories of the population that smoke the most. Other say that such drastic measures will be against America’s deeply cherished values of “personal freedom”. In addition, tobacco products cannot be made illegal because governmental officials signed solid contracts with tobacco corporations in exchange for the billions of dollars that tobacco producers pump into the U.S. economy?
Jimmy Edwards
Canadian Online Pharmacy
Posted on November 24, 2007
Filed Under Stop Smoking News
Comments
13 Responses to “Tobacco Should be Made Illegal”
Leave a Reply
-
-
Categories
-
Subscribe
-
Recently Written
- Exercise and Diets for Smokers
- Flavonoids Save from Lung Cancer
- New Law for Tobacco Industry
- Healthy Food Helps to Quit Smoking
- A Battle between Cigars and Cigarettes
- The Harmful Effect of Smokeless Tobacco
- World Is Against Secondhand Smoking
- Secondhand Smoking and Its Danger
- The Council for Tobacco Research
- Alternative Ways to Help Quit Smoking
-
Archives
Hello,I smoke. I have no intentions to stop smoking.I don’t understand why people would want to criminalize smoking.Smoking relaxes me.On the other edge of the sword I don’t like additives in tobacco,so I don’t buy commercial brands.If the nanny state were to make smoking illegal solely because of being hazardous to your health,they would have to outlaw thousands of products and activities.Driving;salt,alchohol,hiking,walking,prescription drugs etc.etc…..
While I can’t vouch for what the American companies are producing, Swedish snus - the real snus, as made in its homeland, is indeed manifestly safer than smoking tobacco in cigarettes. I invite you to study the issue in the many reports written in Swedish medical Journals and, in fact, most recently commented on by the prestigious British medical jounal, The Lancet.
Contrary to your assertion above, nicotine is not, in and of itself, a terribly harmful substance. It is like caffeine - an alkaloid, commonly found in many vegetables we commonly eat (in the nightshade family - tomatoes, potatoes, etc). It is a stimulant, of course, and it has the hazards which are associated with all stimulants, just as caffeine does, but it is certainly no terrible devil of a chemical. The principal hazard from smoking comes from the inhalation of smoke, not from the nicotine.
Traditional American and Indian chewing and ‘dip’ tobaccos are carcinogenic not because of the nicotine they contain, but because of the presence of compounds known as Tobacco Specific Nitrosamines (TSNAs) - chemicals produced during the fermentation of the tobacco in the production of these products. Swedish snus, however, is pasteurised and not fermented - a process which produces dramatically lower levels of these TSNAs.
In fact, the Swedish statistics show that although they have a similar incidence of tobacco use compared to the rest of Europe, their rates of tobacco related cancers and diseases are the lowest of any western nation. Many medical studies suggest that the use of snus in place of cigarettes is directly responsible for this statistic.
Furthermore, I personally know many people who have quit smoking by switching to snus. All of them have been shocked and amazed at the ease with which they made the switch and all of them are ecstatic to have kicked the smokes.
The problem with mindless, reactionary, and scientifically unjustifiable sanctions (taxes) arbitrarily placed on these products is that you discourage people from taking a very positive and beneficial route out of their smoking habit - one that would add years to their lives and save millions in medical expenses. All because of an irrational vendetta against “evil tobacco”, regardless of the facts and information at hand.
I implore you to consider your positions more rationally and to educate yourself on the issues you are so strongly wishing to influence policy with. The best intentions don’t produce the best results if they are driven by misinformation and emotion in place of logic and reason.
Cheers.
Hi I use Swedish snus (not made by big American cigarette companies that is). To say it is the most harmful of all tobacco is the most ridiculous I’ve ever heard. It is the least harmful. Statistics don’t lie when Sweden uses just as much tobacco but has the least of tobacco related diseases amongst Europe. Not only that, snus does not produce second hand smoke. By that alone it makes it less harmful to more people regardless of what it has in it for the individual.
I got sick of smoking, so I went to dip. I then went to snus when I found out it was less carcinogenic. I also dont have to spit everywhere. My body and friends thank me for doing so.
I know that any form of tobacco to you guys is unacceptable, but it is what makes you freaks. You don’t see the shades of grey. all you see is black and white. tobacco - evil, no tobacco - good. less harmful tobacco - as evil as the worst tobacco (it’s still tobacco!). That’s your logic and it is pathetic.
Making tobacco illegal makes about as much sense as making ignorant writers illegal. It sounds nice, but it doesn’t work.
Making tobacco illegal would go against America’s deeply cherished values of “personal freedom”. It is up to the individual to make choices such as using tobacco or staying away from it completely. What a person does with his or her own health is none of your concern. Trying to weigh in social health expenses is bunk. The same argument can and is used in regards to trans-fatty acids. Trans-fatty burger tax anyone? Making tobacco illegal would create more criminals without question. Personal freedom is the number one reason why tobacco is still legal.
The road to hell is paved in good intentions, please keep your intentions to yourself, and refrain from violating my personal freedom of choice.
Next time you think of using the ‘force’ to violate someones free will, simply stop and let it go.
Tobacco is a sacred part of Native American culture. Just because others abuse it does not mean that it should be illegal.
You forgot the most dangerous invention of all, sweet tasting gum packed full of powerful nicotine obviously targeted at children who love sweets.
Seriously, smoking is bad. Second hand smoke is not great, but not nearly as bad for you as some would like to think. I live in an apartment. My neighbor smokes so much it wafts into my place. But I think I probably have a greater chance of getting lung cancer from radon that might be lurking in the soil than that smoke.
I use snus. The evidence is overwhelming that it is a very safe way to get nicotine. Articles like this obscure the truth and lead smokers to believe their only choice if they cant quit is to keep smoking or pay outrageous prices for big pharma gums and patches that dont quite satisfy their craving. That is irresponsible.
yo im 13 and alot of my friends do stuff like that (snus, smoke chew ect.)
i think all tobacco is bad nomater wat u other ppl say
my dad smokes and i have hated it from the time i found it was harmful to me him and others i agree with the law sayin no smoking in public places
thank you
Nicotene should be ILLEGAL ALL TOGETHER SIMPLY BECAUSE OF ITS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE NATURE!!! How can some of you claim the violation to “personal freedom” if the chemical dependence is robbing one of that freedom to choose whether or not to smoke? If one does cut back on smoking, he or she will be in a constant state of nicotene withdrawal. Smoking is an all or nothing proposition, which, in my opinion, is totally the opposite of free choice.
I’m sorry Ryan, but what you say about how tobacco should be illegal simply because of it’s highly addictive nature is absurd. there are plenty of other things that people can become addicted to such as shopping or sex, but it is our right as Americans to make the decision whether or not to partake in these activities. We are supposed to be a free country-able to do what we want as long as it doesn’t hurt other people. If tobacco becomes illegal, then what next? we will start losing all sorts of other freedoms as well. the whole idea of making tobacco illegal goes against everything that America is supposed to stand for.
I think we are asking for a lot of trouble banning tobacco because this lays the groundwork to ban just about anything. There are extremist idiots already trying to take this to the next level and beyond. I’ve heard talk of banning alcohol, sweets, red meat, fast food, video games, even TV, and pretty much anything else that presents even the smallest margin of “unhealth”. There are jerks that want beaches closed and to have sunbathing banned because of the risk of skin cancer. I think the misery this type of rampant paranoia and repression would bring would be more unhealthy than anything as I doubt many of us would even want to live anymore. This is from someone that doesn’t even smoke.
tobacco should be illegal for the same reason that marajuana and meth are illegal. they kill you. one of my best friends was a great guy, he was never addicted to anything, he was a heathy normal high school teenager. then he started chewing and smoking and did snus. to this day he is a high tempered, rude, person who has lost his family, friends, and self respect. tobacco ruined my best friend and he doesnt even know it. it hurts and changes you without you even knowing that is does it. and if you think that america stands for killing itself then you are wrong and you need help. becouse america does stand for freedom but we all deserve do live and when you do things that slowly kill you then it should be illegal
Sean your to late. you are all ready loosing your freedom. It has been happening for years.
There is lots of places where you can not even have a fire in your backyard.
I do agree tobacco should be made illegal. If i can not legally smoke a joint, then why should smokers be legally alound to smoke tobacco. There is no difference in the two except tobacco is chemically addictive and the goverment makes money on it.
and second hand smoke does harm others so maybe if they won’t it illegal then they should make it so you can only smoke at home. and if you get cought smokeing anywhere in plublic to fine you.
Well Im Allyna And I Am Thirteen Years Old. My Mother And Father Have Been Smoking Even Before I Was Born. My Lungs Are Ruined Because Of Them. I Honestly Don’t Think Its Fair To Ruin Other Peoples Life Because You Wanna Smoke & Ruin Your Own Life. Smoking Is Disgusting And It Should Be Illegal. If Marijuana Is Illegal And Much More Healthier Then Tobacco Cigarettes Then Why Is It Still Legal? It Makes Absolutely No Sense To Me. The Government Is Moronic And I Dont Think Tobacco Should Be Legal. & To You Close Minded People Who Disagree With Me…I Honestly Can Give You Over 175 Reasons Why You Should Stop. Oh Well. Its Your Life & Your Gonna Die Faster Because You Wanna Smoke? Wow. Thats Smart Of You. Seriously. Try And Think Of All The Kids My Age And Other Adults Who Dont Smoke. Your Second Hand Smoke Is Killing Us And Hurting Us.