Poll: Should smoking be made illegal?

[llew]

ok my dad smokes but let me just say this: if people should have the choice to smoke themselves to death, does that mean people can cocaine themselves to death? just saying... but i think it should be banned in public places, not altogether (like the government would anyway the money hungry benders) mainly because its very addictive and loads of people would then resort to getting it illegaly and it would just become another reason to fill up already over-crowded prisons

 

[Celros2]

Hahaha. Actually, being a smoker, I say make it illegal. Damn prices will go way, way down .

But in all seriousness for those that think that cigarettes should be taxed more heavily or banned. Why is it the government's place to tell me what to do? Or to even influence that decision? Your taxing me as if I've done something wrong and there is no factual argument you can make to prove that being a smoker is "wrong". I subscribe to the philosophy that government should stay completely out of cultural issues.

And let me tell you there is nothing quite like the relieving feeling of waking up and pulling out the first cigarette of the morning. Thats satisfaction to me.

Also, for those of you who are using alcohol as if its even in the same league as cigarettes should look a little bit closer. Smokers don't kill people in car crashes (unless you of course are smoking while driving, but thats in the same vein as eating while driving), smokers don't inherently get in conflicts, smokers don't inherently LOSE CONTROL. I have complete command over myself when I smoke and unless you drink "1 glass a wine a day" like health class said was good for you, I'm sure you've experienced what its like to not be in control of yourself.

Alcoholism has destroyed my extended family. Drunk driving causes thousands of innocent deaths. Alcohol poisoning kills thousands of people as well. And thats just deaths, if we count all the people that have been injured, cheated on, neglected, and abused due to alcohol I say cigarettes are a much safer and controlled substance in the truest way.

I smoke. I pay the consequences. Period.

(And someone already mentioned it, but the effects of second hand smoke, unless I'm literally blowing it in your face all day isn't as dangerous as people make it seem)

 

[Daffy F]

No, because prohibition doesn't work. Making smoking illegal would be the same as making drinking illegal in the 20s, or making marijuana illegal. All you end up with is more crime, and more people clogging up the criminal justice system with petty offenses.

Precisely. Plus, because it's been legal for so long, you'd have a hard time getting it made illegal.

 

[BENZOOKA]

Lots of good points made here. Too many to even quote.

It's a No. I can't quit just yet.

 

[Iron Mal]

It would just be a mess if it was banned entirely.

But I am all for banning it in public places, I feel really sick when I smell cigarette smoke. And people aren't very considerate in where they smoke, so.

Oh yeah?

And every time you make a smoker stand out in the rain because they want a cigarette but you don't want them in the same room you're being very inconsiderate to them too (it works both ways, you are not inherantly morally superior because you choose not to smoke, and this is coming from a non-smoker).

Maybe the next time you see someone light up on a rainy day maybe you should be considerate enough to wait outside while they finish.

 

[Raineheart]

No, it should not be banned.

I'm a smoker myself, but I never smoke around other people who don't like it, or around kids. It makes me uncomfortable.

And as to the people who are saying "TAX IT, TAX IT MORE" A 20 pack of smokes in Australia costs around $11.75.

Without tax it would be around $3.50. I think it's taxed enough.

 

[Scarecrow]

I see that there is a lot of anti somkers here, so I'm just going to say this: I don't smoke but I know a lot of people who do.

I think that banning smoking is just stupid because....well do I even need to say why? It should be pretty simple. And would you guys stop tormenting smokers! It's there persnol choise, they don't torment your for drinking or dressing in black or whatever it is that you do. I personly find anti somkers far more annonying then smokers.

And thats my two-cents.

 

[nofear220]

No, because prohibition doesn't work. Making smoking illegal would be the same as making drinking illegal in the 20s, or making marijuana illegal. All you end up with is more crime, and more people clogging up the criminal justice system with petty offenses.

^^^Take notes people. There should be no prohibition on any drug, hitting organized crime very hard and stimulating the economy at the same time. Companies can produce drugs that could be sold in stores and the government can tax them. Just because Crack would be made legal doesn't mean everyone will go out and smoke crack...

 

[Denamic]

It's a drug and should be legal.
And so should other drugs as well.

 

[Unesh52]

I said yes in public places. My mom has smoked since I've been alive and I hate it. It smells awful and it makes it hard to breath. I don't want to have to deal with it walking into a publix or whatever. Just like I wouldn't want to deal with some guy banging on his guitar in a publix. It would be annoying.

EDIT: And the government shouldn't be allowed to tell me what harm I'm allowed to do to my own body.

 

[MassiveGeek]

It would just be a mess if it was banned entirely.

But I am all for banning it in public places, I feel really sick when I smell cigarette smoke. And people aren't very considerate in where they smoke, so.

Oh yeah?

And every time you make a smoker stand out in the rain because they want a cigarette but you don't want them in the same room you're being very inconsiderate to them too (it works both ways, you are not inherantly morally superior because you choose not to smoke, and this is coming from a non-smoker).

Maybe the next time you see someone light up on a rainy day maybe you should be considerate enough to wait outside while they finish.

I'm sorry to dissapoint, I've never forced someone else to stand in the rain because they smoke. That's just rude.

Where did that even come from? Sorry, but when I'm waiting for my train, it would be very nice of the smokers not to light a cigarette in my face when there's plenty of space they can stand on and have a cigarette without forcing me to breathe in the smoke, without having to stand in the rain even.

And did I ever say I was morally superior? My dad smokes, lots of people in my class smoke - I won't ever force them to not do it, but it would be very nice of them not to do it in my face.

And for that matter, what's worse: having to breathe in toxic smoke or standing out in the rain for two minutes? I for that matter wouldn't mind standing in the rain, I think it's refreshing.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

Nah, if people want to smoke it's their own damn business, as long as they don't want to do it around me.

 

[JaredXE]

Absolutely not. It's a legal product, does not outright kill you, and should be able to be purchased freely by consenting adults.

And I say this as a non-smoker.

 

[jackknife402]

No. If smoking is banned then drinking has to be banned as well.

Drinking doesn't harm your health unless you overdo it. Smoking harms you regardless of amount smoked.

You do know that every drop of alcohol destroys a number of brain cells right? Alcohol is worse than weed man.

 

[Eri]

No, because prohibition doesn't work. Making smoking illegal would be the same as making drinking illegal in the 20s, or making marijuana illegal. All you end up with is more crime, and more people clogging up the criminal justice system with petty offenses.

It works both ways. If it was so petty, why would they commit a crime just to do it?

 

[Wolfram23]

Where I live it's pretty much illegal to smoke in most public places, and near entrances to buildings and such. I like it, I definitely don't notice smokers so much anymore.

However, I think people should be free to do what they want. Yes, including harming themselves. I think that a lot of drugs should be legal, but controlled as well as have restrictions on areas of usage... for example, if you're under any influence while driving you lose your liscense.

 

[Lem0nade Inlay]

I think they should tax it. But it is no way right for the Government to ban it. We should be allowed to put whatever the hell we want into our body. I'm not a smoker and I've never had drugs.

 

[Railgun88]

If you want to see smokers start mobbing stores and killing people. Sure, go ahead. Also, if alcohol were to be banned with it I'm sure we would all see a repeat of the prohibition. And we remember the prohibition, right? Just learn from the past, lest we make the same mistakes.

 

[Snake Plissken]

Me being a liberal, I argued that people, knowing the dangers of smoking, should choose for themselves if they want to do it or not.

I hate to break it to you, but that isn't a liberal viewpoint. Liberals are responsible for all of the laws that negatively impact smokers. Your viewpoint is libertarian at best, and conservative at worst.

Ah, sorry. It's the same word in Swedish, I mistranslated.

Ah. Didn't know English wasn't your native language. Your English was pretty good, so it never occurred to me.

 

[Shycte]

It would just be a mess if it was banned entirely.

But I am all for banning it in public places, I feel really sick when I smell cigarette smoke. And people aren't very considerate in where they smoke, so.

Oh yeah?

And every time you make a smoker stand out in the rain because they want a cigarette but you don't want them in the same room you're being very inconsiderate to them too (it works both ways, you are not inherantly morally superior because you choose not to smoke, and this is coming from a non-smoker).

Maybe the next time you see someone light up on a rainy day maybe you should be considerate enough to wait outside while they finish.

The thing is that he is being passive while the other is responsible for the actions. Smoking around others who does not wish it is disrespectful, just like drinking, speaking to loud, having sex etc etc.