As an ex-smoker at times I wonder the same, but I know the answer: governments the world over are addicted to the tax revenue from tobacco production and consumption.
Why do we still permit tobacco use? (2015)
141–150 of 250 posts
Re: Why do we still permit tobacco use? (2015)
#142Smoking is bad but prohibition is worse. Being subjected to the carcercal system is worse for your health than smoking.
I think there can be a place in between allowing it and incarcerating people. Make it illegal to sell and may be heavy fines for getting caught smoking?
Sure, there will be a black market for it but a lot of the low effort entrants to the market and many new entrants will be discouraged. Overall there will be less people using it.
I generally understand that prohibiting something with the threat of incarceration is wrong, but without some legal interference smoking is not going to go away.
Re: Why do we still permit tobacco use? (2015)
#143> Tobacco smoking has no health benefits. None. It can be argued that nicotine, one of the thousands of compounds in tobacco smoke, can have positive effects on some cognitive functions and may even confer some neuroprotection (1), but getting nicotine from tobacco products may be likened to sucking on a tail pipe to get oxygen – it’s there but it’s not going to do you any good. I'm sorry for their personal experienc…
> I'm sorry for their personal experience but leading with "there are zero health benefits", immediately following up with "there might be benefits" and then continuing completely disregarding that point is irresponsible.
Ridiculous. What the author wrote about the health benefits of tobacco makes perfect sense. What would really be beyond irresponsible is any argument that tobacco use has health benefits. You have to ignore the mountain of evidence suggesting that tobacco use causes all sorts of major health problems.
Re: Why do we still permit tobacco use? (2015)
#144It's a plant; it's not going away. Some people like to dry the leaves and smoke it. If those people are adults, leave them alone.
Re: Why do we still permit tobacco use? (2015)
#145Because some people enjoy it, and it's a free country. Why is this even a question?
In Canada (where the article is authored) there is universal healthcare. The health effects of smoking burden the healthcare system and therefore other Canadian citizens.
In the US healthcare system I have less a problem with smoking since you will have to pay for the healthcare on your own.
Re: Why do we still permit tobacco use? (2015)
#146Earlier quoted context omitted.
This presumes that vices have no effects on anyone but the person partaking. Think about the secondary effects of smoking on those around you, or the societal effects of the opioid crisis, or even the effects on rescue workers who need to scoop up what remains of a person riding a motorcycle without safety gear.
This could also be said for alcohol though. Alcohol is associated with higher levels of motoring accidents, assaults, and chronic disease. The externalities of alcohol consumption can be largely mitigated by drinking in moderation. The primary externality of smoking, secondhand smoke, can be mitigate by having people smoke outdoors, which most countries already require in public spaces. The main secondary externality…
There's no "secondhand" alcohol drinking like there is secondhand smoking - while the effects afterwards (if someone chooses to be irresponsible after becoming inebriated) can be severe, they are mitigated by choosing safer practices such as having a ride, drinking at home, and knowing to limit oneself if they exhibit behavior that is negative toward others. With smoking, this isn't a possibility.
Re: Why do we still permit tobacco use? (2015)
#147> However, there is no moderation in tobacco. There is no level at which tobacco smoke is safe for the consumer or the people around them or, as we are seeing, even those who are exposed in a tertiary environment. I've used tobacco products perhaps from 0 - 5 times a year from adulthood on. While not "safe", pretty low risk. I have the same relationship with caffeine and alcohol. Nothing can be all that enjoyable if…
I don't think such an idea would have any practical benefit. A vanishingly small percentage of people would voluntarily limit access and even fewer would end up in courts. Motivated addicts would simply find workarounds to the system while non-addicts and suppliers would be burdened with additional regulation.
Re: Why do we still permit tobacco use? (2015)
#148Earlier quoted context omitted.
I stand behind the one-liner that roots this subthread.
The one-liner topic do not permit tobacco use. Not in the unconditional way that we permit bacon use. We permit tobacco use at the legislative level only in the sense that it's not criminalized. Smoking is widely banned in workplaces and public spaces in many countries. I can bring a bacon lunch to work and nobody will even know. A five-year-old sent on a shopping errand can buy bacon. Smoking is a nuisance and a har…
The production of bacon is a nuisance and harm to people in ways that tobacco farms are not, so I don't think you've exsanguinated my analogy as completely as you appear to think you have. :)
Re: Why do we still permit tobacco use? (2015)
#149I enjoy the plant. I grow it in my garden for the beautiful scented flowers, and then I dry it or buy higher quality pipe tobacco and smoke it in my pipe in the summer and fall. Or a nice cigar when I'm on vacation in a warm place. The industrial cigarette product.. yeah that's something else. Gross. But I don't see how the two can be reasonably separated from each other, though, and how you can realistically police…
In many countries it's illegal to grow tobacco on your own, while it's perfectly legal to buy the industrial product - because government wants their tax money - and I think that's also the reason why the tobacco industry is not more regulated. It's still a huge money not just for the manufactures, but also for governments, and you don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
So that's the real reason tobacco taxes rise; the number of smokers decline.
Re: Why do we still permit tobacco use? (2015)
#150> However, there is no moderation in tobacco. There is no level at which tobacco smoke is safe for the consumer or the people around them or, as we are seeing, even those who are exposed in a tertiary environment. I've used tobacco products perhaps from 0 - 5 times a year from adulthood on. While not "safe", pretty low risk. I have the same relationship with caffeine and alcohol. Nothing can be all that enjoyable if…
The country of Oman has something like this. If you are not Muslim, you can apply for a permit which will allow you to purchase alcohol in restaurants and state-owned liquor shops.
I’m not sure I want to live in a country that models its policies after religious fundamentalist regimes. I choose Liberty.