Cigarettes

[kubedawg]

I've seen a few posts regarding this issue, and I thought it'd be good to bring it up again. But, what I would like to know is this:
___________________________________________________________________

1. Should smoking become illegal?
2. If not, what do you think the legal smoking age should be?
3. Do you smoke?
4. Have you tried to quit?
5. What are the effects while or after smoking?
6. What are the benifits of smoking?
7. What should the price of a pack of smokes be?
8. How can we, the people, make smoking illegal?
___________________________________________________________________
My thoughts on the subject are yes, smoking shoud be illegal, if it will never be illegal, I think the legal smoking age should be raised to 21 years old, I smoke on occasion, but not very often, and I find that when smoking, I find it harder to breath, it smells bad, tastes bad, is bad.

Yes i have tried to quit. But, every once and a while I still crave that 1 cigarette, which leads to 2, to 4, 8, 16, and so on.

On top of it being unhealthy for everyone, it's an expensive habit. I think a pack of cigarettes should cost at least $20 a pack. Hey, it's working with gas prices, people have stopped driving as much, breakin out the bicycle or roller blades or just walking to get to wherever they need to go.

The only benifits of smoking I can see is that it relieves stress.

Yes there are chemicals in it to calm the nerves a bit, but I bet you $1million, that if the nicotine was taken out of a cigarette, it'd have almost the SAME affect on the person smoking it, I believe this because when you smoke, you hyperventalate, causing a feeling of light-headedness and relief.

PLUS! there are tons of other ways to relieve stress! Find something you like to do, whether it's reading a book or novel or snowboarding down a huge mountain at 60mph.

It's even harder for kids, what, with all that peer pressure put on these kids.



I think a lot of people think we can't make smoking illegal because the government makes big bank with taxes and all, and also, taking away smoking completely will cause rage and chaos all around the USA. But, we can start at least by raising cigarette prices to $20 a pack, then we can see how everything unfolds.

[SteveA]

Alcohol should be illegal, oh, and sugar too.

Don't use police to make yourself quit. Why not just pay for a quitting program instead of having everyone else pay to put you in jail so you can quit?

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: kubedawg we can start at least by raising cigarette prices to $20 a pack

Who gets the money?

[kubedawg]

that is a great question patrick. 75% of it needs to go to cancer research/labs/centers.

[ghost_stalker]

I think that the government should ban smoking or levy extra taxes to it.
If someone decides to smoke its their own choice, and they should not have to pay extra because othe people tell them not to.
I think the government should prohibit the use of unhealthy additives in tobbacco products (such as cancer causing and addivtive agents)
This way people couldnt get addicted as easily and the addiction would not be as bad as tobacco with addictive additives.
Also the effects on a persons helath woudnt be as severe.

[SteveA]

Quote by: kubedawg that is a great question patrick. 75% of it needs to go to cancer research/labs/centers.

I think a lot of people think we can't make smoking illegal because the government makes big bank with taxes and all, taking away smoking completely will cause rage and chaos all around the USA. But, we can start at least by raising cigarette prices to $20 a pack, then we can see how everything unfolds.

My apologies. I didn't make it all the way down to the last paragraph. Cute.

I think that the government should ban smoking or levy extra taxes to it. If someone decides to smoke its their own choice, and they should not have to pay extra because othe people tell them not to. I think the government should prohibit the use of unhealthy additives in tobbacco products (such as cancer causing and addivtive agents) This way people couldnt get addicted as easily and the addiction would not be as bad as tobacco with addictive additives. Also the effects on a persons helath woudnt be as severe.

As much as I don't like government in things. I can't say entirely that there isn't an issue with some marketing techniques being effectively fraudulent. They already came down on tabacco companies pretty hard on this and there has to be some standard for representing something. (They are required to put the warnings on them now)

It's a tradeoff. Though there likely have been people who were harmed while information regarding the health information about cigarettes may have been suppressed (I don't know. These are just possibilities and I've said that fraud is something that government should protect against, so it could apply here too)

I'm a smoker also and never minded when they made it illegal to smoke in restaurants but I found it kind of annoying when they didn't allow it in bars and now it's almost insulting that they make it illegal to smoke on a beach. I mean I didn't care too much before but it seems like things went way overboard and now, some state representative wanted to make smoking in your car illegal You give them an inch and they take a mile.

Best thing is just don't start smoking but leave a smoker along if he ain't bothering you.

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: kubedawg that is a great question patrick. 75% of it needs to go to cancer research/labs/centers.

You talking taxes or collusion among Big Tobacco, or price fixing by the middle men?

You want legislation setting prices on a product as addictive as cigarettes?

If you are in charge I am gonna buy Phillip Morris...

If anyone is answering this thread, I would appreciate a little more input on my poll:
Smoking
Thanks in advance!

[ghost_stalker]

As much as I don't like government in things. I can't say entirely that there isn't an issue with some marketing techniques being effectively fraudulent. They already came down on tabacco companies pretty hard on this and there has to be some standard for representing something. (They are required to put the warnings on them now)

I think that the government took the wrong stand in those cases, they came down on tobacco companies for the ill effects of their products, but did not require the companies to remove the dangeruos additives in those products that resulted in the health problems.
If the health risks werent so bad it wouldnt be banned in so many places.

[kubedawg]

Quote by: ghost_stalker I think that the government should ban smoking or levy extra taxes to it. If someone decides to smoke its their own choice, and they should not have to pay extra because othe people tell them not to. I think the government should prohibit the use of unhealthy additives in tobbacco products (such as cancer causing and addivtive agents) This way people couldnt get addicted as easily and the addiction would not be as bad as tobacco with addictive additives. Also the effects on a persons helath woudnt be as severe.

I think the government SHOULD ban cigarettes or at least levy taxes. I'm for the people's well being. The government is killing us all by allowing such things to happen. Same thing with drinking.

And shit, the people SHOULD have to pay extra to smoke cigarettes, after all, they can just say no.


And while I'm kinda with you on the fact that they should prohibit the use of unhealthy additives, I ask a question. Do you know what causes cancer from smoking to happen?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco


If you would like to see them take out all the cancer producing carcinogens, that'd be removing the tobacco... leaving you without a cigar or cigarette.


Yeah, it'd piss people off, but look at the bright side. People could look to other, positive ways for stress relief, have less of a chance of getting some sort of cancer, and be able to enjoy life better rather than waiting till smoke break to enjoy maybe ten minutes.



SMOKING IS BAD FOR YOU, ME, EVERYONE, AND IT HAS TO BE BANNED!

[Gorgo]

I started at age 15, and quit at age 34 when they started restricting smoking in the workplace.

Does that mean I would have quit if it became illegal? Yes, probably. Does that mean that I think it should be illegal? No. It would be much better if we were taught how to make better decisions and stick to them at an early age. Instead, we're taught to worship gods and flags and heroes. We're taught to memorize dates of when people slaughtered each other for no good reason. We're not taught to think.

[kubedawg]

making it illegal must mean something... it's bad for you? you know the diff between right and wrong dontcha?

[Gorgo]

I try not to use those terms. There is no black and white right and wrong. I know that smoking is potentially harmful. I think society's disapproval of my smoking affects my behavior. I think putting a bigger strain on the situation by imposing huge taxes and fines and even imprisonment make the situation worse.

[Matt W]

This isn't Politics & News...moving to Society & Rights.

[Chris]

More people die from ciggs than do from Heroin and pot.

Make it all legal

[Gorgo]

Quote by: |Chris| Make it all legal

I agree. Or decriminalize it as they say. Use the billions that is spent on this for education and health care and most of the other problems will go away, or at least be minimized greatly.

[Osborn F Enready]

In answer to Kubedawgs original post.

1. Should smoking become illegal?

I say it depends on how you look at rights. I would kill people who tried to take away my rights with no compunction, so no, since it is a right to consume vegetables, no, it should not be illegal.

2. If not, what do you think the legal smoking age should be?

I think the legal smoking age should be the same age as being an adult, as deemed by law. My ideal answer would be at maturity though.

3. Do you smoke?

Yes I do, and I have quit for two years in the past. I started smoking when I joined the Navy, because if you smoke in the service, you get smoke breaks. Much like I went to church in the service, because if you attend services you aren't forced to stay at the barracks.

4. Have you tried to quit?

Yes, I quit easily with the aid of a quit smoking product that flushes nicotine from your system over 36 hours, which virtually eliminates craving. I started again after two years, because I truly missed smoking and the relaxation it gives me.

5. What are the effects while or after smoking?

I didn't notice any bad effects from smoking until I had done it for 8 years. After about 8 years I noticed more phlegm and some morning hack. This is not entirely new to me though, since I was born with sinus problems and have had the same thing, just not to the same degree, for my whole life. I also noticed when I was powerlifting, that my body healed faster when I wasn't smoking between workouts.

6. What are the benifits of smoking?

The benefits are individually different. Some people enjoy the relaxation, some enjoy the solitude your forced in by being asked to go outside to smoke, some just enjoy smoking a cigarette. I wouldn't say there are any tangible benefits, other than peace of mind on demand if it affects you that way.

7. What should the price of a pack of smokes be?

The cost of manufacture, plus a small increase for profit. The taxes and abuse of taxation on cigarettes as we speak is absurd, criminal and in my opinion, un-excusable.

8. How can we, the people, make smoking illegal?

Abolish the Constitution, and individual rights, and speak out that you hate people thinking for themselves and doing things that you don't approve of. Consult Hitler, Stalin or Marx.

[Osborn F Enready]

Also right and wrong and illegal and legal are entirely different. Dont confuse morals and laws.

[Athena]

Quote by: kubedawg making it illegal must mean something... it's bad for you? you know the diff between right and wrong dontcha?

Excuse me! Do you enjoy deserts or candy bars and anything with sugar in it? How about french fries and other fried food? How about chips and crackers? All this stuff is bad for you.

[Osborn F Enready]

I am working to prove that water causes death based on the fact that all beings that have consumed water, have now died, or will assuredly die. Anyone want to help? LOL

[YourTokah]

1. Should smoking become illegal?

No. Aren't your freedoms becoming a little too elusive these days as it is?

2. If not, what do you think the legal smoking age should be?

When you can vote for the next idiot or die in a war (as a soldier, rather than collateral damage) you should be able to enjoy whatever the hell you want. 18.

3. Do you smoke?
Yup.

4. Have you tried to quit?

I quit when I was pregnant, now smoke a quarter of what I used to (and all outside, I might add, even in the durned 100degree weather we have here). Oh, when I was pregnant I quit cold turkey. It's a little craving for a few days, no biggie.

5. What are the effects while or after smoking?

I'm assuming you mean for me personally, since the "effects" have been documented for years and years now. Personally, it depends on what I'm doing. If I've just smoked a joint, the cigarette tastes very pleasant and is a nice cap on a nice feeling. If I'm drinking, it's a little bit of a "wake-up" puff. If I've just eaten, it's quite relaxing. After smoking, I smell.

6. What are the benifits of smoking?

They're different for everyone, yeah? It's mostly all mental. Even the physical benefits, like relaxation, etc. occur because you get that little bit of nicotine and ease your anxious mind.

7. What should the price of a pack of smokes be?
I'm not an economist or marketing cigarettes. I'd hope they stay affordable, though. Expensive cigarettes, like super-expensive, would just be a way for the govt. to outlaw them without actually having to outlaw them. Extreme discouragement of use.

8. How can we, the people, make smoking illegal?
Too bad you weren't born somewhere like Iran or Cuba, huh?