by Norman Weibel

Created on: June 09, 2009   Last Updated: June 16, 2009

What can be prohibited depends to some extent on where one lives. Smoking Medicinal marijuana, for instance, is perfectly legal in California. In most other states, it is not. For all the hue and cry against tobacco, its use among young ladies is increasing, while, at the same time, its overall use is declining.

Many people my age (I'm a veteran of the war in Korea) were introduced to tobacco by our government. Our C-rations had little packets of four cigarettes included. Non-smokers usually gave them away, but many succumbed to the temptation to try, "just one". Smokers, appalled by the fact they had to buy more, truly appreciated the token gift.

Though the complications of COPD and Emphysema, brought on by more than forty years of heavy smoking, brought about the end of my smoking, many of my contemporaries still smoke. Though the tobacco companies have long been aware of the addictive nature of nicotine, it is only fairly recently that it has become common knowledge. Addictions are are to break.

That being said, people living in a free society must be allowed the freedom to make their own choices. If, with full knowledge of the addictive nature of a substance, one chooses to risk it, that's his or her choice. It is neither societies right nor its duty to prohibit the free choice to smoke.

Though tobacco is the most common substance inhaled by smokers in the form of cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and pipes, there are other substances that are or can be smoked. My grandfather, when he found me trying to smoke his pipe, filled it with coffee grounds and insisted I smoke it down.

In addition we have marijuana which is smoked in cigarettes, pipes, and bongs. Cinnamon is also smoked. I suspect farm children still sample corn silk, as well.

I feel smoking, like substance abuse of any other kind could be prohibited. Both congress and our state legislatures have the power to regulate business through the passage of laws. History has shown us, however, that prohibition rarely reduces the prohibited substances use, but drives its use underground, usually in the control of our criminal element. It also deprives the government of revenues taxation of the substance brings.

Rather than prohibition, our present practice of making smoking legal and taxing it heavily, is our best bet. It is possible and in many states the law, to prohibit smoking in certain venues, such as bars and restaurants.

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