Why in the **** are cigarettes legal?!

[SierraMarie]

Do you people know how many cancer-causing chemicals are in cigarettes? It seriously disgusts me. Not only that but the fact that they are actually allowed to sell them in stores. It really makes me physically sick.

 

The worst part is I've actually smoked. They truly are addicting. I used to be anti-cigarettes. You would have never thought that I would have picked up a cigarette. I thought they were repulsive. But one day I did it for the sake of being bored. It's a habit and anybody can become addicted to them.

 

Again, I ask, why are they legal???

[Woggle]

Because as bad as they are for you this is a free country and people should have the right to put what they want in their body. It is the same reason I feel drugs should be legal. If a person wants to slowly kill themselves it is their business.

[SierraMarie]

Because as bad as they are for you this is a free country and people should have the right to put what they want in their body. It is the same reason I feel drugs should be legal. If a person wants to slowly kill themselves it is their business.

 

Nooo it's not right. Did you know it's illegal to kill yourself? So why are you allowed to smoke. It is so stupid. And it's really not a choice. It's an addiction. You light up one cigarette, then you start doing it every once in a while, then more often and more often.

 

Would I have ever smoked if I'd known I'd get addicted? HELL no. Cigarettes are as addictive as heroin and cocaine. They truly are.

 

Here's just a short list of the chemicals in cigarettes. It's really sick that someone would sell this to another human being.

 

freon- which damages the ozone layer!

acetone- which is what is in nail polish remover

hydrogen cyanide- gas chamber poison

tar- which is what they use to make roads

formaldehyde- used to preserve dead bodies

butane- cigarette lighter fluid

And nicotine isn't even in tobacco naturally. It's added to the cigarette and it is also what is in bug sprays(insectisides) and is what gives you a "buzz"

 

It's so disgusting. And why in the **** would you want drugs to be legal? So there can more chaos in this already messed up world? So there can more kids killing themselves and destroying their lives?

[McFadden]

Nooo it's not right. Did you know it's illegal to kill yourself? So why are you allowed to smoke. It is so stupid. And it's really not a choice. It's an addiction. You light up one cigarette, then you start doing it every once in a while, then more often and more often.

 

Would I have ever smoked if I'd known I'd get addicted? HELL no.

 

Are you saying you never heard that cigarettes were addictive before you smoked one? I doubt that, everyone makes a point of drilling that into everyone's heads. I understand why youre angry that you got addicted but its not the government's job to keep every possible temptation away from everyone. And I think the fact that killing yourself is illegal is the most retarded law ever. Its not even enforcable.

[SierraMarie]

Are you saying you never heard that cigarettes were addictive before you smoked one? I doubt that, everyone makes a point of drilling that into everyone's heads. I understand why youre angry that you got addicted but its not the government's job to keep every possible temptation away from everyone. And I think the fact that killing yourself is illegal is the most retarded law ever. Its not even enforcable.

 

Yeah I had heard that before but I was bored and I was hanging out with my friends, who all smoked and were all also under age, like me. I really didn't think I would become addicted from smoking one cigarette. I was 17 and I really didn't care, I just wanted to have fun.

 

That is the problem most people start smoking when they are underage, and it's very easy to get cigarettes. I think that it should be the government's job to fix a very obvious problem. So many people die from smoking. I think it's a conspiracy. I mean who could let this go on.

 

I don't know about you but I definetely would not be one of the people manufacturing cigarettes. I mean, what kind of person would make such a horrible thing when it kills so many people? And all these kids are smoking as well. They obviously have no conscience.

 

Another thing, why would anybody "want" to smoke? The may want to smoke for a while but eventually they are going to want to quit. And that is very difficult. Why would so many people die from smoking? You'd think after they started hacking up a lung, they would quit? No, they can't quit.

 

I have no problem with cigarettes being legal, but why must they put nicotine and all this other crap in them? Because they want them to be addictive. That is the whole point of cigarettes. Why don't they sell cigarettes with JUST tobacco in them?

[Art_Critic]

but why must they put nicotine and all this other crap in them?

 

 

They don't add Nicotine.. it is part of the Tobacco plant

 

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

[SierraMarie]

They don't add Nicotine.. it is part of the Tobacco plant

 

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

 

 

Yes, but they increase the amount of nicotine in the cigarettes. And why do they have to put all the other chemicals in it?

[Woggle]

It is not the job of the government to be our babysitter. Everybody knows cigarettes are bad for you so if they still choose to smoke it is their own fault and this is coming from somebody that can't stand second hand smoke.

 

The war on drugs has been a huge failure and has not stopped drug use or slowed it down whatsoever. All it has done is create a black market that has led to more violence and crime because dealers don't live within the law. Legalizing it will take the criminal element out of the drug trade.

[SierraMarie]

Ah, well I guess it's just a fact of life. It still upsets me that somebody could make such a terrible thing. I guess it's for the love of money.

[Lizzie60]

Because as bad as they are for you this is a free country and people should have the right to put what they want in their body. It is the same reason I feel drugs should be legal. If a person wants to slowly kill themselves it is their business.

 

if that's the way you think...they shouldn't be getting any medical services since it's the tax payer's money who pay for his medical care here in Canada.

[Woggle]

I would rather pay for that health care than pay for a war I do not support and I do not feel keeps me safe.

[a4a]

if that's the way you think...they shouldn't be getting any medical services since it's the tax payer's money who pay for his medical care here in Canada.

 

Well if you feel that way....... people that drink and are harmed, people that contract an STD, people who get pregnant ....... these are all choice based physical conditions which should not be the tax payers burden either.

 

Don't forget sports accidents..... choice based as well.... and the list goes on and on.

[Lizzie60]

smoking is no. 1 killer and second hand smoke also kills people...

 

drinking doesn't kill the person...it might kill others but then they go to jail... smokers don't go to jail if they kill others with their second hand smoke.

[a4a]

smoking is no. 1 killer and second hand smoke also kills people...

 

drinking doesn't kill the person...it might kill others but then they go to jail... smokers don't go to jail if they kill others with their second hand smoke.

 

Well you can try to state that to recovering alcholics..... it does kill people. http://www.isu.edu/pubsafe/crime_prevention/Alcohol_Is_Number_One.html

 

 

 

I would rather suck in some second hand smoke than have to deal with drunk any day.

 

Car exhaust also can be deadly.... I wish people would quit making me suck in their exhaust fumes.

 

Most places are non smoking/ have non smoking areas.

 

Number one killer is heart disease and this one states obesity. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/6438.php

[Citizen Erased]

Because people have the right to have something which doesn't automatically endanger their life. I don't smoke, I hate the taste and smell, but I can get off of my high horse long enough to realise I have no right to say what people can and can't do to make their life a teeny bit more enjoyable.

[Herzen]

The United States, and especially some state and municipal governments, are morphing into Nanny States.

 

The Libertarian in me cringes at the Government criminalizing "unhealthy" behavior. On the other hand, the taxpayer in me resents paying for healthcare for people too stupid or addicted or reckless to, for example, stop smoking, stop drinking, use seatbelts, use motorcycle helmets, stop eating fast food, etc.

 

This "public health fascism" is off-putting, yet there are many people who often make bad choices for which we taxpayers must pay. Why do I have to pay for the consequences of your bad habits?

 

I suspect it's a matter of class, income, education and lifestyle.

 

It's not Big Brother we have to worry about, it's "Big Sister".

[a4a]

The United States, and especially some state and municipal governments, are morphing into Nanny States.

 

The Libertarian in me cringes at the Government criminalizing "unhealthy" behavior. On the other hand, the taxpayer in me resents paying for healthcare for people too stupid or addicted or reckless to, for example, stop smoking, stop drinking, use seatbelts, use motorcycle helmets, stop eating fast food, etc.

 

This "public health fascism" is off-putting, yet there are many people who often make bad choices which we taxpayers must eventually pay for.

 

I suspect it's a matter of class, income, education and lifestyle.

 

It's not Big Brother we have to worry about, it's "Big Sister".

 

I think if you want to fly through the windshield of your car you should have that choice.

 

I ride horses...... can be very dangerous. I truly believe if you choose this type of behavior you are responsible for your own care if you are harmed.

 

I believe that if you decide to have a baby you should pay for it. If you suck on cigars until your lungs turn black...... you pay for treatment if you want it.

 

We are living in a world where unwanted medical treatment is now being forced upon individuals.

 

"A chicken in every pot" needs to be changed to " A treadmill in every home"

 

Shut down the fast food joints.... make soda illegal.

 

I agree Herzen this big brother thing is getting way outta hand!

 

Besides the amount of tax on cigarettes certainly helps pay for smokers health care

 

They should make pot legal and tax the hell outta it.. (I don't smoke pot so tax away) I truly do think Soda needs a health tax on it.

 

IMHO it is just as bad as smoking.

[Herzen]

I think if you want to fly through the windshield of your car you should have that choice.

 

I ride horses...... can be very dangerous. I truly believe if you choose this type of behavior you are responsible for your own care if you are harmed.

 

I believe that if you decide to have a baby you should pay for it. If you suck on cigars until your lungs turn black...... you pay for treatment if you want it.

 

We are living in a world where unwanted medical treatment is now being forced upon individuals.

 

"A chicken in every pot" needs to be changed to " A treadmill in every home"

 

Shut down the fast food joints.... make soda illegal.

 

I agree Herzen this big brother thing is getting way outta hand!

 

Besides the amount of tax on cigarettes certainly helps pay for smokers health care

 

They should make pot legal and tax the hell outta it.. (I don't smoke pot so tax away) I truly do think Soda needs a health tax on it.

 

IMHO it is just as bad as smoking.

 

a4a, you teased out the implications of my argument: Sin Taxes. Sin taxes are the way to balance individual liberty and State Nannyism.

 

I agree: tax unhealthy products to help pay for the health care required from the use of these products.

 

That beats "Prohibition" and governmental intrusions that are allegedly for our own good.

[McFadden]

SierraMarie, I think you have a negative attitude about your ability to quit smoking. I'm sure you've already tried, but with the attitude that you can't quit you will never be able to. I know its easy for me to say as someone who hasn't tried. I know there are a lot of things out there but I would probably just go cold turkey, make sure I didn't have access to any and enlist people around you to make sure you can't get to cigarettes. Going through withdrawl and being very uncomfortable for a few weeks won't kill you and once the nicotine is out of your system you will be better off unlike with the patches ect that keep a little bit of nicotine in your system. I know the success rate for quitting is low but you can be part of the minority, my grandmother quit after 20 years of smoking just from being determined to do it after my grandfather died of lung cancer.

 

 

On the topic, it is a conspiracy to an extent and the government is making a lot of money off of it, but that's how it is. The government is not the 'good guy' or some divine protective force, its like a big business. Peoples' well being is up to themselves and thier families. Even if teens start smoking they know the risks of it now days IMO and if they don't care or think it won't happen to them its their responsability to deal with. I knew what risks I would have been taking even as a younger person.

[HokeyReligions]

Living causes death. Life should be banned.

 

Read a history of the tobacco farmer. Learn about prohibition. To understand the laws you have to look back to see how we got here. How would you finance and enforce such laws as mentioned above? The government is so busy fightiing each other that the safety of our country is in the toilet. Where do we spend the tax money? Making laws that cigarettes are illegal or changing laws that protect criminals?

 

I think drugs should be legal too & free - for the sole reason that all the dope heads can kill themselves on drugs - or get shot breaking into homes like mine with the idea of stealing to support their habit. Maybe we could then use tax money to retrain tobacco farmers to be morticians and funeral directors!