Why are tobacco products Legal?

Question

Ok, besides the fact that top tobacco companies give hundreds of millions of dallars to campaign finance, and the government makes over 1 dollar a pack in taxes, why are tobacco products legal?

Home remedies that have proven to be harmful can't be sold as home remedies anymore.

Tobacco products do absolutely no good for anyone, so why are they even legal? They harm the user, period. There is no benefit, nothing good about Tobacco products.

I am not a "truth" person or a big "anti-smoker". I am just looking at it from a logical point of view.

Other than the government making a ton of money from tobacco sales and contributions, what is the benefit of having them legal?

ok, I know I answered the main question, then what are the benefits of any tobacco products?

Answer 1

I, too, am baffled by this.

I have been asking for years why tobaco (nicotine) is legal, yet cannabis is illegal.

And then, the english newspaper The Indepedent on Tuesday 1st August 2006 gives a front page article, "Drugs ratings, rated according to danger to people and society" Heroin was number 1. Alcohol was number 4, with 40,000 deaths in a given year. Nicotine was around 7th with 20,000 deaths I think. Cannabis was 9th or 10th with 116 deaths attributed to it.

The government suggests that laws are there to protect the public, and then make tobacco companies put "smoking kills" all over their packets - 1) Goverments are there to protect the public + 2) Government says nicotine kills the public = 3) government makes nicotine illegal. But it doesn't.... there's more to the purposes of the government than we were led to believe in school and from our parents...


But then, last week, I watched a Penn and Teller episode that demonstrates how the 2nd hand smoking danger is actually unfounded - I've had my opinion changed since then. Yes, it's still unpleasant, and I'd rather party in Scotland or Sweden than in England where I still suffer smelly clothes and hair after a night out. (Scotland and Sweden have banned smoking in public places). But I no longer believe it's a danger. In fact, my own father who has been smoking for as long as I've known him - he's still ticking along at aged 70, and he still smokes like a chimney.


So, for me, I'm baffled by it all.


What makes me smile though is those people who vehemently shout they wouldn't touch drugs with a bargepole and almost get violent when you suggest they try a splif, and then they sit there with their vodka bitter-lemon and their cigarette.

Isn't brainwashing by society a fascinating subject?


To those who say that it should be legal because it has benefits:
- Heroin too has benefits. But it is controlled. It is given out by doctors. Perhaps, then, nicotine should be given out by doctors following your argument.

To those two say that it should be legal as we have a choice whether we use it or not:
- Then make cannabis legal too - we, too, can choose whether to use it. Make all drugs legal by the same argument. Or, just make the non-addictive drugs legal - cannabis is non-addictive. Oh, but wait, nicotine is highly addictive according to the government - oh well, that argument fails too.

Answer 2

i feel that tobacco is legal because the government can track it's sales and make money off it and claim their taxes.that's the only reason that drugs are not legal because there is not a way yet that drug dealers can really prove how much
they sale and smuggling in the states,
and thats the truth but liittle by little drugs are becoming legal like weed,look now doctors give it to some people, you know why?
because the government can track each person that is using it and tax the insurance compines and the people that dont have insurance.

Answer 3

The same reason way alchohol is legal. It can kill you, but you have a choice.

All the kids smoking today, have all had the warnings and all the teaching materials on why smoking is bad. If they decide to try it anyways, they can blame noone but themselves. We have known for a LONG time that smoking is horrible on our bodies, yet we still get hooked.

I see it as a matter of choice. As long as there is a demand, there will be tabacoo companies.

Answer 4

Tobacco products should be legal as they do have some good uses and it is the responsiblity of the person on how they use them. I believe that tobacco should not be used in the wrong ways it is used but nonetheless, it should not be banned as it should be the responsibiltiy of people.

Answer 5

I would say it's a mix of money and basic freedom.

Why should I go to jail because I enjoy smoking? That goes against everything it means to be an American.

Answer 6

Because ppl like to smoke. Not everyone develops cancer from smoking despite what you here. I don't smoke but support smokers right to be able to smoke in public places. I

Answer 7

you answered your own question the government.
if they could find a way to stop people from growing pot so only the government could tax it we would be allowed to spoke weed.

Answer 8

Why is alcohol legal when there are so many people killed each year by drunk drivers? Same reason, money.

Answer 9

YOU GOT IT , TAXES and the fact I'd go bonkers without them .

Answer 10

you always have a choice. quit smoking!

i just love what they did in arkansas right now. they make all restaurants non-smoking. aahhh.....fresh air ^_^