Cigarettes should be illegal.

[monadicYawn]

It is a vice a lot of people rely on, we can't simply get rid of it, we all know what happens when we take away... Oh, let's say alcohol. It'll be a thing to be sold by gangsters and other organized crime groups. Tobaco on its own is much less harmless but companies add addictive and poisonous substances to make them more attractive. They are a huge source of tax income and one of the largest corporate organizations.
I'd propose they simply start selling raw tobaco cigarettes instead.

A comment to those who want weed legalized - Most of the people arguing for it, saying how much better it is than cigarettes; they still bring in massive amounts of tar into your lungs and it is linked to many psychologic conditions such as bipolar disorder, psychosis and others. Smoking it in teen years before the brain has evolved can cause severe damage to the psyche depending on the individual. the majority of those arguing for marijuana are just using the substance to get high - With no other purpose.
Not that I'm judging, people use alcohol to get drunk and I'd much prefer someone be baked than wasted.
I do support the legalization of marijuana to be another source of tax, to stop a large amount of its trafic in illegal groups and to be used for medicinal purposes with less discrimination. There are people however who make me ashamed for being for the act of its legalization because so many of them are burnt out slackjaws who do nothing but get high.

 

[monadicYawn]

The fact is that smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your body on a day to day basis. I've known too many people who've died from lung cancer - It's a bad habbit and has rooted into our economy over the years. Smoking is appealing because it affects the frontal lobes in two ways; it calms the mind and soothes most tension as well as stimulates the lobes to cause an increadible sense of invigoration.
The tobaco on its own is just as harmful as raw marijuana but again, that's JUST because the companies put chemicals in it; much like how gangs add chemicals to their weed to make it more addictive.

It's your choice to smoke, but don't pretend it's not bad for you. If you smoke, don't be ignorant and accept what it is you're doing. If you're worried for your health but need that vice, buy raw tobaco and roll your own cigarettes... Or quit, but I'm not forcing that decision upon you. I would advise you to do so, due to the large amount of drawbacks to smoking but that's my bias.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

"Ciggies should be banned, pot FTW!"

Uh, yeah. Sure. Except most Western powers perceive taxes on cigarettes, which have become a pretty important part of Canada and the United States' economy, among others. Any political party offers to ban cigarettes in Canada, and you can bet your ass Imperial Tobacco and its lobbyists are going to put pressure on Ottawa so whatever proposed anti-tobacco bill that could crop up will be crushed like a cigarette butt.

The most they've done since cigarettes became mainstream in Western society is restrict the spaces where you're allowed to smoke. Canada's added huge anti-smoking ads on cigarette packs that take up more than two thirds of a jumbo pack's size and are intentionally graphic; but that won't deter anyone who's severely addicted to cancer sticks. They've progressed to showing us the most graphic, agonizing shots of people in advanced emphysema or surgery camera shots of late-stage cancerous tumors, or even utterly destroyed gums and teeth - but that doesn't stop anyone.

Not that pot is any better, anyway. Most people don't smoke it pure and cut it with tobacco. On a long enough timeline, there isn't much of a difference between smoking a doobie outside of Jamaica and going through a pack of filtered cigs per day. Both can potentially kill you dead.

 

[Tipsy Giant]

OR just legalise everything and we can actually be treated like adults who can make conscious decisions for ourselves! Fuck me, when did we become such a bunch of pussies?

MURDER (all violent crime) & THEFT are the only real crimes we need protection from!

I always laugh when I see someone accuse anyone of socialism in this country. Because we already live in a pretty socialist government. The government is telling us all the time what is and isn't good for us and then slowly they are removing our ability to make choices for ourselves. This is exactly the reason I became a semi-libertarian.

I would rather have freedom and the ability to fuck up then live 200 years in a completely controlled government run life.

The problem is always that the right want to tell you how to live your life and the left always wants to make sure life is consequence free, neither of which most people want...... but if you want choice you will never find it on the right, unless the choice is how little tax you pay and you are rich

 

[tehroc]

And this right here is why we need marijuana reform in America. Prohibition causes more problems then the drug.

Unfortunately we will never see marijuana reform, due to the Military-Industrial Complex selling guns to both sides. The US economy is built upon Forever War, the War on Drugs just fills in the blanks when we don't have any countries to invade for oil.

Marijuana users are also the Prison-Industrial Complex's favorite, what's easier to incarcerate, non-violent drug offenders or ruthless killers?

/ontopic Education is far more effective then prohibition.

 

[Gilhelmi]

And this right here is why we need marijuana reform in America. Prohibition causes more problems then the drug.

Unfortunately we will never see marijuana reform, due to the Military-Industrial Complex selling guns to both sides. The US economy is built upon Forever War, the War on Drugs just fills in the blanks when we don't have any countries to invade for oil.

Marijuana users are also the Prison-Industrial Complex's favorite, what's easier to incarcerate, non-violent drug offenders or ruthless killers?

/ontopic Education is far more effective then prohibition.

That is very paranoid of you.

Take note I only said paranoid, sadly you are Not wrong.

 

[Vampire cat]

I don't think anyone should smoke, do drugs, get drunk or an kind of stuff like that. Smokers smell bad, people under the influence can get pretty irrational and stupid, I know I don't like when my personal friends and family get drunk. Am I going to pass a law preventing them from doing any of those things? Well, no. If some people really feel the need to do these things, let them. If they DO break any laws under the influence they should get punished for what they did. Making stuff like this illegal only serves to feed the world of crime. Surely USA, with their prohibition of alcohol, should have seen the effects it had. WHY don't people learn?!

EDIT: Also, OT: everyone who smokes should try "snus". At least it doesn't harm the people around you, nor the enviroment.

I would agree, but being a shallow person I have to add; People "snusing" look so painfully stupid... They grin and that black goo pour out of the upper lip and.. GUUH! At least movies has ensured that smoking LOOKS cool, so there's that =p.

 

[Link55]

"Ciggies should be banned, pot FTW!"

Uh, yeah. Sure. Except most Western powers perceive taxes on cigarettes, which have become a pretty important part of Canada and the United States' economy, among others. Any political party offers to ban cigarettes in Canada, and you can bet your ass Imperial Tobacco and its lobbyists are going to put pressure on Ottawa so whatever proposed anti-tobacco bill that could crop up will be crushed like a cigarette butt.

The most they've done since cigarettes became mainstream in Western society is restrict the spaces where you're allowed to smoke. Canada's added huge anti-smoking ads on cigarette packs that take up more than two thirds of a jumbo pack's size and are intentionally graphic; but that won't deter anyone who's severely addicted to cancer sticks. They've progressed to showing us the most graphic, agonizing shots of people in advanced emphysema or surgery camera shots of late-stage cancerous tumors, or even utterly destroyed gums and teeth - but that doesn't stop anyone.

Not that pot is any better, anyway. Most people don't smoke it pure and cut it with tobacco. On a long enough timeline, there isn't much of a difference between smoking a doobie outside of Jamaica and going through a pack of filtered cigs per day. Both can potentially kill you dead.

i didn't post that!

 

[Kasawd]

Ecstasy I also think should not be illegal and should be free to sale to all adults. It is not very addictive nor dangerous. [Argh, misquote!]

The issue with E is that, when made carefully, it's not very dangerous, but, when made by people who don't care about their product, it can be incredibly lethal, due to the diverse ingredient list.

If we legalised it, then, we could produce safe ecstasy. Hell, we could make the BEST ecstasy.

With proper education in place, marijuana could constitute a very lucrative market and should be considered as such. After all, seeing as you'll faint before overdosing, it's a modicum safer than other drugs. It's effects, though, are as distracting as alcohol, if not as immediately apparent and should be treated with the same caution. While Meth and Cocaine and Heroin pose a seperate threat, looking into other avenues of safe dispensation.

Come on, though, guys, second hand smoke in open air is negligible. Really, it is and if you're having issues with it, I can only assume your misleading me to make a point. I don't smoke and walking alongside smokers never bothers me, much less when they're a good foot away. I've had asthmatic friends seated indoors amongst smokers exist with little trouble. You may want to address general health issues if it's giving you that much grief because it's on your end.

Even if it does, keep a close watch ahead and don't get close to smokers. They're allowed to be there, legally, so the onus of avoidance is on you. If they're close to doorways, just ask them to move(Politely). Civility goes a long way and, hey, even if it doesn't work and they don't, then you get to berate them without being a jackass!

Everything in moderation.

 

[Naeo]

If nothing else, it should be banned on a matter of consistency (as should alcohol, especially). The general reasoning for outlawing other drugs (cocaine, marijuana, etc) is usually framed as a public health issue by the people in favor of the bans. And since the negative health effects of cigarettes are massively well documented (that goes double for alcohol), it seems that the same reasoning should apply to both tobacco and alcohol as well. Or at the least, say "our mark is it has to be at most as harmful as smoking tobacco," in which case, legalize marijuana (probably--since the health effects, both good and bad, are still a source of some contention, it merits further serious study) and basically half the stuff that's not heroin or meth. It's weird to me that the "it's for the safety of the public" argument doesn't apply to tobacco/alcohol.

Unfortunately, past experiments with prohibition were miserable failures, so alcohol at least is here to stay. And it probably will be forever, since alcohol is probably the one drug that is the most heavily ingrained in human culture--basically every civilization in history with the capability to produce alcohol in some capacity has done so, and it has almost always been a major part of the cultures of various parts of the world. Tobacco is here to stay because, and I apologize for the paranoid conspiracy theory sound of this, the tobacco industry has too much power and money. They simply have enough money to railroad any legislation to the effect of "tobacco is now illegal" off the floor of Congress. So sadly, both seem to be here to stay, until we can get people to stop wanting them--if there's no demand, it's easy to say "well, no one wants it anyways, so it's illegal now." And the tobacco companies won't have all the money they currently do which they use to market and lobby for things.

Basically, I say current laws are just incosistent. The public health/safety argument absolutely applies to alcohol and tobacco, yet they're the exception--the only two drugs that are legal and with more or less unrestricted access to anyone of age.

 

[Wedgetail122]

Its not as simple as outright banning them, they can be a horrible thing with addiction and I dont plan to ever light one up, my mother is a smoker however. She has tried many times to kick the habit but the addiction is too strong even with medical advice, something always happens right before she is about to get rid of them for good, and then becuase of the stress she goes back on them. Its just unpheasable to ban smoking outright, it would be incredibally hard for those addicted, however, regulations could be made to ban smoking at a certin age level, and gradually increase it until there is only one generation of smokers. Here is a weird argument for smoking, troops fighting on the cold moutain peaks of Afganastan, such as the Australian SASR, often take up smoking periodically, apprently helps to keep them warm and functioning whilst there over there. Amazingly these men usually kick the habit when they get back to home soil, supperior will power I guess. Its a very complicated issue that involves free will, government power and alot of other complex arguments, I dont expect a conclusion to be drawn anytime soon.

 

[ATRAYA]

So tired of people believing that marijuana isn't as harmful cigarettes to such an extent that they begin to think it's HEALTHY in some way... Cannabis is bad, cigarettes are bad. Don't use glaucoma as an excuse to get high... And for the love of God LOOK UP the harmful effects before you use!
OT: I'd rather see people QUIT the habit, rather than just take an addiction away from them. One path lets them be independent and strong, the other unites them in a chaotic frenzy of hate and withdrawals. I prefer the former (though I don't condone getting addicted just to quit and be strong).

 

[soulfire130]

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.

If you know that cigarette have chemicals in it then why not ban the chemicals that are being put in it. Because the average cigarette has tobacco in it, which is also a plant like weed and is also natural.

Also, look up prohibition and you'll see why making cigarettes illegal is a bad idea.

 

[MrGalactus]

I believe the opposite. Every harmful narcotic should be legalised. We have the right to choose how and what we want to abuse our bodies with.

 

[Drizzitdude]

You know, they banned alcohol once. That surely was a succes story, wasn't it?

How about we simply allow people the choice whether to smoke or not, okay?

This. Banning cigarettes would result in a similar or worse scenario. I mean really just keep them away from public places so I don't have to breathe-in their crap and we are fine.

 

[Shivarage]

The only reason weed is illegal is cause they can't tax it like they do cigarettes

I think the cigarettes are safe

 

[Calibanbutcher]

What.

the...

HELL!!!!!

Eating? Jacking off? Driving?

You can die from eating, Jacking off and Driving just like smoking.

Oh and need I remind us an Aneurism could strike us down at any time in our life?

Please, tell me you are joking?

Masturbation is not at all deadly and not remotely dangerous. The low possibility of choking while eating is offset by the inevitable fatality from starvation, while choking is rare and easily treated with the Heimlich manoeuvre which most should be trained in, I am. Driving is relatively safe if you follow all safety laws. No insurance company charges extra for driving, almost all charge extra for smoking as it is borne out in statistics: driving legally isn't dangerous, smoking AT ALL is very dangerous.

Habitual smoking is the single biggest thing that will shorten your life and hasten you to an early gave, the physical impediments of smoking are immediate and continuous as long as one continues to smoke.

There is nothing you can do to stop a spontaneous aneurysm which are EXTREMELY rare, mainly affecting people with rare genetic conditions in their youth or the very old.

Just one thing as far as dangers are concerned:
Eating fat, salty food will increase your risk of dying of a heart disease and increases your risk of getting cancer.
Eating sugary food (en masse) will increase the risk of diabetes, which also shortens your lifespan.
And in our society, bad eating habits are still worse than smoking.
There are more overwheigt people than smokers, and being overwheigt is terribly bad for you.
And the physical impediments are even worse and getting rid of excess wheight is, for some, even harder than quitting nicotine.

EDIT: Forgot the jacking off part:
Jacking off is very healthy, as long as you don't do it more than 40 times in a row.
And there are lots of health benefits too, so take of your pants and jack it.

 

[Treblaine]

Just one thing as far as dangers are concerned:
Eating fat, salty food will increase your risk of dying of a heart disease and increases your risk of getting cancer.
Eating sugary food (en masse) will increase the risk of diabetes, which also shortens your lifespan.
And in our society, bad eating habits are still worse than smoking.
There are more overwheigt people than smokers, and being overwheigt is terribly bad for you.
And the physical impediments are even worse and getting rid of excess wheight is, for some, even harder than quitting nicotine.

You need salt, sugar and fat for a healthy diet especially for an active lifestyle that you should have to be healthy. You can't restrict fat/sugar/salt in the same way as tobacco as you can healthily eat fatty, salty and sugary food but there is NO safe level of consumption of tobacco (only via smoking). Also, eating unhealthy food doesn't cause problems for other people like emitting irritating smoke or discarding fag ends everywhere and being the cause of so many fires.

Avoiding extreme weights of either too much fat or not enough is a subtle balance between exertion and consumption that the government is in no position to regulate. It would be impractical to prescribe how much people should or should not exert themselves, and then again on what they eat. Fad diets of "eliminate fat" or "No carbs" or "Replace all sugars with artificial sweeteners" do not work.

With smoking it is really as simple as: DO NOT INHALE SMOKE!!! Not smoke from weed or tobacco. Just don't inhale it. Very simple. No balance. You don't need to inhale any smoke to live like you need lipids, carbohydrates and sodium to survive.

"bad eating habits are still worse than smoking."

Nope. Less people smoking doesn't mean smoking is less dangerous. Nuclear waste isn't less dangerous because agencies do a good job of containing it. The damage to your pulmonary system from smoking will impede you more than being overweight, you have to be morbidly obese for it to be as much an impediment as smoking.

 

[kasperbbs]

If you don't like cigarettes then don't fucking smoke. Smokers harm themselves and noone else, noone is forcing them to do it. I would rather like to see alcohol banned, people do stupid shit when they are drunk, and it often ends badly and not only for the ones who consumed the alcohol, but we all know thats not gonna happen, even if it was made illegal people would still manage to get drunk if they really wanted to. Since you mentioned chemicals you better read the labels on the food products, it's all mostly chemicals these days, might as well ban food too.

 

[Bassik]

You don't like cigarettes? Please explain to me why that means I should stop.
I smoke tobacco, weed, hasjisj.. and I enjoy it!

But no, that stuff is bad for you, so let's all enjoy another glass of alcohol, and then go home to beat our wives.

When people drink, I see girls standing outside because there was some sort of drama (there always is), youths getting into fights, families neglected, driving accidents, horrible addictions, vandalism, uncontrolled libido's, and many more.

But no, let's ban the drugs I like instead, because the dangers of four assholes sitting on their couch playing games and listening to music far outweigh those of drunken maniacs.

Idiots.