I have lived my entire life being surrounded by people that smoke. However, I don't believe that smoking is acceptable. Smoking is harmful in so many ways that it is surprising that it isn't illegal already. I mean, SMOKING KILLS! In addition, cigarettes can cause cancer in the mouth and/or lungs, gum disease, and much more, and yet, they are not illegal. WHY? Cigarettes contain addicting ingredients just like other drugs, yet they aren't outlawed like they are. WHY? They are even considered a linking drug to other more dangerous drugs. I just don't see how something like smoking can be accepted in a society that is very against the use of other drugs. Don't try to tell me that they aren't as dangerous. My own grandfather died because he smoked, and yet, this is acceptable to society.

Just what we need more government intervention into our private lives and a black market cigarettes that we can kill each other over. This is as dumb an idea as they get. Move to a communist country we don't want your kind in the US.

__________________
LIFE'S A HT!

No drugs should be illegal, including cigarettes.

Your grandfather killed himself. It's not the government's job to intervene in that.

__________________
"Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." - Hassan-i-Saba

My Great Uncle has Smoker's Lungs, but he has never smoked a day in his life. His wife smokes heavily, and that is causing him health problems. Smoking is addictive, so its unlikely she will stop. I say tax the cigarettes to heck and tax the cigarette companies to heck, thats really the only way because your never going to make smoking illegal, although where I live smoking in public places is banned.

I don't feel cigarettes should be illegal, but I do find it wretched that so many wind up addicted to nicotine by acquiring the habit from their apathetic parents.
But this said I feel smokers should never be allowed to complain. These people are socially allowed to have breaks every five minutes by other smokers in businesses and they have the nerve to complain about not being allowed to smoke in restaurants. I know people who are allergic to smoke and are de facto barred from many smoky restaurants. And these restaurant providers want smokers to have extra rights because they spend more. Probably because many of these smokers have an extremely flexible (I'd say liberal, but someone would take me out of context) definition of "need". What they really need is to quit smoking. And if they don't they should quit complaining. Same with overeaters who complain about unaccomodating theaters. How can we say capitalism is promoting responsibility when businesses are catering to overspenders who have deadly habits, thus encouraging their stupidity?
Screw whiny smokers! When are they going to invent a nicotine IV for these addicts so that they don't bother us anymore. At least then we wouldn't be getting the second-hand smoke.

As long as they don't pass on their smoke to anyone else (i.e. not infringing on my right to breath smoke-free air), smokers can lite up all day long.

If someone is stupid enough to smoke, they can be my guest. It's not as if the risks associated with smoking are a big secret. We've informed the populace; the choice is theirs.

__________________
Proudly a "South Park Republican"

Cigarettes are deadly yes, and nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs. Yet they aren't illegal like most other addictive drugs. This is because when you smoke cigarettes you don't lost control of yourself or your mind, you don't become beligerant or experience a psychedelic euphoria. You also don't harm anyone but yourself when you smoke.

What are the arguements for secondhand smoke? Its more dangerous because the smoke is unfiltered? I don't believe Second-hand smoke is nearly as deadly as its made out to be. Sure it is deadly when you are sitting in say, your house with someone who smokes, but if you walk by someone on the street corner having a cigarette you health is not in jeopardy. Smokers are no longer allowed to smoke in resturants or most private owned businesses. They also aren't allowed to smoke in most public areas, this includes bus stops, theme parks, or any crowded areas. So why do you believe that they should be illegal? There are many laws restraining smokers to protect the health of none smokers. Its a persons choice whether or not to endanger their health so that they may enjoy a cigarette. It is a stuiped decision to become a smoker, but it isn't a decision that you should make for other people.

Marijuana also does not make people a danger to others. Come to think of it neither do most hallucinogens as long as people don't do something really dumb like drive. In fact the thing that makes drug addicts dangerous isn't always their behavior on drugs (unless you count working with heavy machinery and driving- which makes alcohol just as bad). It's what they do when they're trying to get drugs and when they're going nuts from withdrawal. Smokers don't steal as much, but they do all but starve themselves to get their fix and usually have the gall to complain about not having money. They're also really mean when coming down without a slow detox. Granted, I still don't see making them illegal. But I won't stand for anyone trying to make it sound like cigarettes are somehow holier than other drugs just because they don't get you high.
I'm personally a caffeine addict, so I have slight sympathies to all you pathetic addicts, enough to back you keeping your habit. But not much. When I go without coffee for a day, I can take a couple Advil to alleviate my withdrawal symptoms. I also don't spend my food and rent money on coffee then complain about being broke. And I've never asked anyone a stupid question like "How can you work at this hellhole and not drink coffee?"

So I keep my original statement: Smoking can be legal, but smokers should never be allowed to complain.

Word up, doc...

HAHAHAHAHA, what an idiot. How about we just decriminalize cocaine possession/use, and have a mob of buzzed up people shooting people and vandalizing things. If the government doesen't get involved these things will happen.

His grandfather killed himself, but its not the governments job to sit around and ignore various health risks to society. Theres no way anyone is going to ban cigarrettes, but taxing them heavily will deter some people from using them. Funding research about prevention is intervention is also another way government can get involved.