Do not Jail all smokers ...

Originally posted by: Summer3

Do you agree that Law should be implemented to Jail all smokers and drug addicts or those dealing in them ?

First close down all the cigarette manufacturing companies.

The world allows it to go on because of greed. Cigarette companies fund politicians.

Several countries consider it as a Constitutional right to smoke.

High time we get rid of this rubbish once and for all.

A plan can be drawn up in this regard.

What's with your smoking obsession? Whenever I peek in here every once in a while I see you posting something or the other about throwing smokers in jail and all that jazz. A discussion on this would be great, but ranting on about the same thing constantly pretty much grates on the nerves after a while.

Anyway. Yes smoking is addictive. Yes it is a vice. It chars your lungs, and yes it disgusts people. Which is why it is rightfully banned in public places in most countries. It's even worse than pot in terms of detrimental effects and the likelihood of addiction. However, natural tobacco by itself is not the culprit. Unadulterated nicotine is hardly, if ever, a contributor to lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. The issue here is the additives and 'fillers' the tobacco lobby pumps in regular cigarettes. Which is why, if you go up to any pipe, hookah, or cigar smoking people and ask them what they'd prefer, they'd wrinkle their noses in disgust at the mere mention of commercial ciggies. Not that the former are devoid of any negatives- it's just that they tend to have no/a lower concentration of tar and the like.

Yes, several countries consider it a Constitutional right to smoke, and why shouldn't they? The same goes for drinking. Alcohol is also harmful in excess, so what are you going to do? Ask for a blanket ban on that too and usher in Prohibition 2.0? A ban is never the answer because you'll only end up dealing with yet another (and a bigger) black market. What is seriously needed is stringent regulation and certain quality control standards that can keep the tobacco lobby dirtbags from using more junk and less tobacco in cigarettes.

At the end of the day you can't throw people behind bars if they're OK killing themselves.

edit: The same goes for drug addicts. They need rehabilitation, not imprisonment. As in the case of the tobacco lobby when it comes to smoking, you have the middlemen and the drug cartels that run the whole puppet show, largely because the most 'tame drug' out there, marijuana, is illegal. That has led to it being overpriced and most likely to be adulterated with harmful fillers that are way more dangerous than the plant itself. Which in turn can make one take up the hard stuff after experiencing the initial (botched) rush that only wanes over time. Again, regulation and common sense is required rather than a matronly approach to relatively less harmful substances.

By jailing addicts instead of rehabilitating them, you're catching the small guppies and letting go of the big sharks.

Originally posted by: Summer3

Do you agree that Law should be implemented to Jail all smokers and drug addicts or those dealing in them ?

First close down all the cigarette manufacturing companies.

The world allows it to go on because of greed. Cigarette companies fund politicians.

Several countries consider it as a Constitutional right to smoke.

High time we get rid of this rubbish once and for all.

A plan can be drawn up in this regard.

I find smoking to be vile and nasty and avoid smoke as much as possible. However, the notion of banning or imprisoning smokers is the most ludicrous dumbest thing I've heard of. It is even more amusing considering the well known fact that cigarettes are often 'prison currency'.

I'm even against the banning of cigarettes in bars and restaurants. The only reasonable ban I can think of is smoking in a public place. As a non smoker, I don't think it is fair for me to be exposed to cigarette smoke when I wait for a bus or a train. But as a non smoker if I choose to go to bars that allow smoking or allow friends to smoke around me, that is a choice I make.

A smoker has the right to smoke. They are well aware of the ill effects and choose something. If we are concerned about the well being of non smokers, then the fair alternative is limitations on smoking in public places. If we are concerned about well being of smokers, we can subsidize rehabilitation, increase the taxes on cigarettes etc.

Originally posted by: Summer3

Do you agree that Law should be implemented to Jail all smokers and drug addicts or those dealing in them ?

First close down all the cigarette manufacturing companies.

The world allows it to go on because of greed. Cigarette companies fund politicians.

Several countries consider it as a Constitutional right to smoke.

High time we get rid of this rubbish once and for all.

A plan can be drawn up in this regard.

Barring anger issues, extremity and hatred towards a group of people, the ignorance in this post alone is a great concern for the future of civilized world.

Unfortunately, there are people in this world who would agree with the above post.

No. that is not the solution.smoking is already been controlled by banning it in public places. drunken driving is punished severly. there are many such vices that are harmful to mankind. but can people be jailed because they have a bad habit? infact jail is a place where they might do it more.

Let the smokers smoke their lungs out as long as they dont harm you with their smoke

It is very sad to see young kids smoking.
The older generation are basically hard core and too deeply addicted.
I believe we do need a strong wake up call to stop smoking.

Many countries like Singapore have banned smoking in offices, public places and enclosed aircon offices and eating places. Heavy duties and taxes are levied to make cigarettes more expensive.
But still it is not working. I was shocked to see my neighbor's 17 year old son smoking like a pro when both the parents are non- smokers.
Perhaps a tight slap is needed, but such punishments are not allowed these days.

I believe no country can fully ban smoking but the younger generation can be discouraged. Those below 21 caught smoking or possessing cigarettes should be locked up and sent for rehabilitation.

Originally posted by: Asritha

lol...lock the below 21 yr smokers...and slap the older ones...it's cool! don't put them in jail 😳...but seriously...some solution is required!!

I do feel sorry for the poor cigarette addicts.
I told my friend that to stop smoking he should smoke more so that the brain will feel disgusted with smoke, some sort of rejection syndrome. Perhaps he should try smoking 10 cigarettes all at once as a "do or die" solution. 😆
When faced with a serious health crisis some of my friends did give up smoking.
I think some smokers were also addicts in their previous lives. But they should think how their bad habits affect the younger generation too.