Cigarettes should be illegal.

[rob_simple]

I don't think we should ban anything that restricts freedom of choice, but I do think the NHS should come out and say 'if you smoke and you get cancer, you're on your own; if you drink and you get liver failure, you're on your own; if you eat so much that your arteries clog and your heart explodes, you're on your own; if you injure yourself because of your own stupidity, you're on your own. Deal with it.'

People should have the right to do whatever they want with their bodies, but it shouldn't have to cost the rest of us anything, whether it be financially or by taking up space in a hopsital that could be used by someone who didn't put themselves there.

While I can see where you're coming from, I don't think I'd want to start down that road. Pretty much anything could be seen as your own fault in one way or another... Isn't that basically how insurance companies work in the US? Refusing to pay out for anything? I could be totally wrong about that, but I can certainly see potential for such a system to be abused.

I have no idea how things work in the US, to be honest, (also my point wouldn't really work there since I think they still have to pay medical bills?) but I think as to it becoming a slippery slope if it is at the discretion of a doctor he should be able to tell the difference between 'accidental' and 'dipshit stupidity'.

For example, if you're re-tiling your roof and a gust of wind blows you off and you break a leg, that's a pure accident. Sure you could go and buy a proper harness and safety gear but there's no sense in paying a hundred odd quid for something you'll use maybe once or twice in your life; if you know what you're doing then just being careful will suffice nine times out of ten.

On the other hand, if you decide to climb a huge tree one day and suddenly realise you can't get back down so you jump and break both legs...well, you didn't need to be up there in the first place. It's the same as these dickheads who try to climb mountains but have no experience then they get trapped. Fucking leave them up there and teach everyone else a lesson.

Jack Dee sums it up better than me, really...

 

[Eamar]

That, and I'd wager a lot of drug use starts out as rebellion. Somehow, I don't think saying, "hey guys, let's go take some of this perfectly legal substance that will severely damage our health and won't get us in trouble in any way" has quite the same advertising appeal.

I wouldn't bet on it- that's how most of the cigarette smokers I know got started. By which I mean it's legal, they knew the health risks and just got into it to "rebel." I never understood that, it's not even like you get high off a cigarette... I swear the only reason for it was to piss off their parents, which is pretty pathetic when you think about it.

 

[thePyro_13]

And Alcohol too, if only we weren't so socially dependant on the two. A massive section of the population would flip the shit if either were actually outlawed.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

I disagree, but in the other direction. Since alcohol and tobacco are legal (and they should be, since a government body shouldn't be able to tell you what you can and can't stick in your own body for your own pleasure in your own house), marijuana should absolutely be legal since it:

cannot kill you

is not physically addictive

cannot kill you

and has medical applications.

Only thing tho big pharma won't let us.

 

[chadachada123]

I disagree, but in the other direction. Since alcohol and tobacco are legal (and they should be, since a government body shouldn't be able to tell you what you can and can't stick in your own body for your own pleasure in your own house), marijuana should absolutely be legal since it:

cannot kill you

is not physically addictive

cannot kill you

and has medical applications.

Only thing tho big pharma won't let us.

Oh, oh I know. I'm part of a drive to push for legalization in the state of Michigan. If all goes according to plan it will be on the ballot for this year, to at LEAST let the voters decide.

That common sense is also in line with "sticking it to the man" and "screwing over big corporations" is just icing on the cake!

 

[JokerboyJordan]

How is alcohol worse? You can get lung cancer from second hand smoke, I've never heard of getting cirrhosis of the liver from second hand drinks lol. But that's why I've always considered cigs worse is you can be affected by one even if you yourself don't smoke. But if someone is drinking next to you, you aren't gunna get any side effects. (I'm not anti-cigs, drinks, or pot btw to each his own)

I only meant the point of that alcohol has a way worse effect on the body of the user.

In second hand, smoking is definitely the worst of anything, aside from society as a whole.

Common people, it seems like everyday I have to keep stating this proven fact. Second hand smoke is not a threat to non-smokers, it takes around 10 minutes for people to filter the effects of these chemicals out of there body.

Second hand smoke was debunked a very long time ago, it just doesn't exist.

Source please, as November 11 and the Surgeon General [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0036-36342008000500016&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en] would disagree with you.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I disagree, but in the other direction. Since alcohol and tobacco are legal (and they should be, since a government body shouldn't be able to tell you what you can and can't stick in your own body for your own pleasure in your own house), marijuana should absolutely be legal since it:

cannot kill you

is not physically addictive

cannot kill you

and has medical applications.

I direct your attention to this post.

Except that's wrong.

Inhaling smoke of any kind has a negative impact on the lungs.

3 joints a day does as much damage as 20 cigarettes [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2419713.stm]


I agree with your point, but the idea that marijuana is some sort of amazing drug that does no damage is, frankly, ridiculous.

I'm of the belief that most drugs should be regulated and taxed, it's the shit that most illegal drugs are cut with that'll kill you. That doesn't mean the drugs themselves aren't dangerous though.

 

[ResonanceSD]

Common people, it seems like everyday I have to keep stating this proven fact. Second hand smoke is not a threat to non-smokers, it takes around 10 minutes for people to filter the effects of these chemicals out of there body.

Second hand smoke was debunked a very long time ago, it just doesn't exist.

Common people? What, you think you're Lord Smog do you?


Dude, either second hand smoke does exist and isn't a threat, or it doesn't exist and therefore doesn't matter. Make up your mind.

Also, unless you source that ridiculous claim, no one is going to believe you

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

I disagree, but in the other direction. Since alcohol and tobacco are legal (and they should be, since a government body shouldn't be able to tell you what you can and can't stick in your own body for your own pleasure in your own house), marijuana should absolutely be legal since it:

cannot kill you

is not physically addictive

cannot kill you

and has medical applications.

Only thing tho big pharma won't let us.

Oh, oh I know. I'm part of a drive to push for legalization in the state of Michigan. If all goes according to plan it will be on the ballot for this year, to at LEAST let the voters decide.

That common sense is also in line with "sticking it to the man" and "screwing over big corporations" is just icing on the cake!

Frankly humanity has to deal with the fact the war on drugs dose not work. Legalize the moderately harmful stuff(up to weak versions of cocaine, heroine,ect ) let the public get their fix and magically you will reduce crime. Might not get rid of meth,ect but thats a different problem as its potent its cheap and easy to sell. Then you put all that tax money into rual and inner city hospitals,clinics and half way houses(maybe even bring back clean/modernized mental hospitals, god knows we need them).

 

[miketehmage]

I agree OP, although, I'd rather see it the other way around.

Instead of saying "you've made weed illegal, so you should make cigarettes illegal and here's why:"

We should be saying "cigarettes are legal, WHY IN THE NAME OF FUCK ISN'T WEED?"

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

Common people, it seems like everyday I have to keep stating this proven fact. Second hand smoke is not a threat to non-smokers, it takes around 10 minutes for people to filter the effects of these chemicals out of there body.

Second hand smoke was debunked a very long time ago, it just doesn't exist.

Common people? What, you think you're Lord Smog do you?


Dude, either second hand smoke does exist and isn't a threat, or it doesn't exist and therefore doesn't matter. Make up your mind.

Also, unless you source that ridiculous claim, no one is going to believe you

Sadly cars effect you more. The only way 2nd hand smoke can effect you is if you are around it constantly for long hours and thats fixed by signing a waver at the place you work. This march to snuff out smoking is fcking scary its an easy target and scape goat like fake child porn.

 

[CODE-D]

Well yes they should ban cigarettes but im biased since
I FUCKIN HATE CIGARETTES!!!

 

[ResonanceSD]

Sadly cars effect you more.

Yeah, Source?

The only way 2nd hand smoke can effect you is if you are around it constantly for long hours and thats fixed by signing a waver at the place you work.

Yes, I waive my right to healthy lungs, other people smoking around me should defs be allowed to poison me as well as their own bodies. What an awesome approach. If people are allowed to smoke in your office, please tell me what it's like to live in 1950.

This march to snuff out smoking is fcking scary its an easy target and scape goat like fake child porn.

^

I'm 23 and what is this? Smoking kills. it's an easy target, because the shit kills people who don't smoke. I'm not sure why you're in denial about this.

 

[JET1971]

Best thing to ask someone that wants to ban something because they dont like it is ask what they do really enjoy so that can be banned too. If you are so willing to take something from someone else, you should accept losing something yourself.

 

[Flare_Dragon123]

Cigarettes shouldn't be illegal. Marijuana should be legal.

Tax revenues sources. Open them and tax the hell out of the reres willing to use it too much.

 

[ResonanceSD]

Best thing to ask someone that wants to ban something because they dont like it is ask what they do really enjoy so that can be banned too. If you are so willing to take something from someone else, you should accept losing something yourself.

\

I keep forgetting how playing video games adversely affects the lifespan of nearby people. Oh wait. It doesn't?

 

[godfist88]

of coarse, because banning something always fixes the problem.

but on a serious note, lay off the smokers dude, if they wanna ruin the'r bodies, let them.

 

[Nyaliva]

I was at a bus stop with a smoker once. He was standing away from it but the smoke was blowing back over the stop and onto everyone. The smoker saw this and immediately moved to the other side of the bus stop.

I don't mind cigarettes and smokers so long as their courteous. Butts are one of the worst sources of litter around and it annoys me to see butts on a sidewalk not 10m away from a bin with designated cigarette disposal trays. I don't like cigarettes and I wish they were banned but I know 1) there are too many smokers for that to be accepted, 2) the government gets too much tax so they won't ban it and 3) They've put so many restrictions on it so far which have done little to stop people smoking but it's reduced the risk of non-smokers being impacted by smokers.

However, I hate the argument that everyone has a choice as to whether to kill themselves slowly because many start out in their teens and they don't know any better or find it too difficult to quit. You may tell them to suck it up but you won't know how hard it really is until you try it yourself.

 

[chadachada123]

snip

Ah, but that only applies if you're *smoking* marijuana. (Additionally, even smoking marijuana slows tumor growth for some cancers up to fifty percent).

Vaporizing weed or cooking it and then eating it (pot brownies, etc) doesn't contain any carcinogens (note: contains 1 carcinogen when vaporized, which is basically negligible compared to the hundreds that tobacco has) and won't have any of the negative effects that inhaling smoke would have.

snip

Funnily, in my home area, there just started a massive social panic against "spice"/K2, which is legal here but is being smoked by kids as a replacement for marijuana. The funny part is that spice can fuck you up and doesn't even simulate the effects of marijuana, and is completely unregulated.

 

[dagens24]

Weed is less harmful than cigarettes. At least weed help people in a way. That and it's natural unlike the thousands of chemicals in the average cigarette. And in what way does a cigarette help anybody. If you know a way please tell me. But they should just ban them without hesitation.

Because the war on drugs has been so successful.