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[SneakyStephan]

I don't get why smoking is legal. It's poison and the worst of all the drugs. (as in it's the shittiest by MILES)
The only 'high' is the relief when the jonesing from the dependency stops for a few minutes.

Like making yourself permanently itchy just so you can enjoy the 5seconds of relief when you scratch, it's retarded.

 

[subrock]

That kid that was waiting until his 18th birthday to smoke is going to be so upset.

 

[the1npc]

I don't get why smoking is legal. It's poison and the worst of all the drugs. (as in it's the shittiest by MILES)

The only 'high' is the relief when the jonesing from the dependency stops for a few minutes.

Like making yourself permanently itchy just so you can enjoy the 5seconds of relief when you scratch, it's retarded.

Tax money...if the ban it a black market opens up like in nyc and in indian reserves in canada/us.

 

[slit]

I don't get why smoking is legal. It's poison and the worst of all the drugs. (as in it's the shittiest by MILES)

The only 'high' is the relief when the jonesing from the dependency stops for a few minutes.

Like making yourself permanently itchy just so you can enjoy the 5seconds of relief when you scratch, it's retarded.

Because making it illegal would make a bad situation worse. Also, while it is poison no doubt, as someone who is friends with a former meth head you're wrong! At least depending on how you define worst.

 

[Condom]

Eh, I hate cigarettes just as much as the next person, but I'm not sure I understand the point of raising it to 21. Just ban them if you want people to stop smoking.

Banning creates a black market. Raising it every year with 1 year is the best way to ban anything.

The current users will keep using while a new generation will grow up with cigarettes being illegal.

I'm personally not for banning though, just like other drugs I think regulation is the best solution.

 

[TarNaru33]

Because making it illegal would make a bad situation worse. Also, while it is poison no doubt, as someone who is friends with a former meth head you're wrong! At least depending on how you define worst.

This... It would make the situation worse, but not because there will be a sudden increase in smoking as it is banned as many of you seem to think. It is because it adds consequences into the equation. It would be U.S throwing tobacco smokers (chewers maybe also?) in jail and lead to the same issues with marijuana.

As I said, for such a ban to work, it would need a revamp in the justice department to ensure most (if any) aren't going to jail.

 

[SuperEpicGuy]

Finally. Can't wait till it's banned. People are too stupid to take care of themselves.

Banning creates a black market. Raising it every year with 1 year is the best way to ban anything.

The current users will keep using while a new generation will grow up with cigarettes being illegal.

I'm personally not for banning though, just like other drugs I think regulation is the best solution.

On second thought, this is a better idea. People who choose to kill themselves while wasting away their money and youth/health can do so if they desire.

 

[kingkitty]

lol

lets just make voting and military 21 as well.

 

[gutter_trash]

I do not see why you have an issue with this. I mean, in the past you would have a point, but not now. The U.S military provides a lot of bonuses for those that enlist and majority will never see actual combat. Of course, that is statistically speaking.

Sure it is risky, but that is also true for many other professions and daily living (driving).

There is only one issue I can think of and that is the way some recruiters do it, rather than trying to enlist students itself.



This isn't true... Multitude of factors, but restriction is a minor reason for use of such substances. I don't know why everyone thinks and say this all the time.

young people of a certain age are not mature enough to make such critical decisions.
Easily manipulated, easily convinced, easily coaxed.

 

[Rabbi_Vole]

Everything should be raised to 21.. Including age of consent.

 

[Two Words]

I do not see why you have an issue with this. I mean, in the past you would have a point, but not now. The U.S military provides a lot of bonuses for those that enlist and majority will never see actual combat. Of course, that is statistically speaking.

Sure it is risky, but that is also true for many other professions and daily living (driving).

There is only one issue I can think of and that is the way some recruiters do it, rather than trying to enlist students itself.



This isn't true... Multitude of factors, but restriction is a minor reason for use of such substances. I don't know why everyone thinks and say this all the time.

Compare the alcohol craze with American youth and European youth.

 

[Ace 8095]

Given that raising the legal age to drink to 21 almost entirely reduced alcohol use in the 16-21 age group, I am in full support of this law and hope more states adopt equally progressive legislation.

 

[esms]

Good. Ban them entirely next.

I think you may be onto something, seeing as how well it worked for drugs and alcohol.

 

[Protag]

New York City is 21. New York State as a whole is still 18: https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/tobacco_control/current_policies.htm

Edit: Oh, and Suffolk County, looks like.

Thats stupid imo, man i hate cigarettes

 

[JJDinomite]

Eh, good idea but I don't think this is really gonna change anything. People drink well before they turn 21, and people already smoke before they're 18.

 

[grumble]

Compare the alcohol craze with American youth and European youth.

Both youth groups drink a lot. And binge. Maybe Americans are worse but it's more than just denying easy access. There's a bigger cultural issue in America.

 

[Schweinehund]

I hate smoking, the smell of it, the results of it, don't find it pleasing but I can't say I agree with this.

 

[Suite Pee]

As someone who is about 45 or so days tobacco-free, I would love to see people who want to ban smoking tell that to a room full of smokers.

 

[Giant Panda]

Banning advocates: "The war on drugs works so well, let's add cigarettes!"

 

[TarNaru33]

Compare the alcohol craze with American youth and European youth.

Grumble pretty much answered you for me. You would need to clarify what you mean by "craze" though.

young people of a certain age are not mature enough to make such critical decisions.
Easily manipulated, easily convinced, easily coaxed.

No argument with this, it is true. It wouldn't hurt to remove such things I suppose.

 

[Grakl]

People aren't really even adults at 18 imo

 

[SolidSnakesMyStepDad]

Splendid. As long as it stops those fuckers from blowing their death smoke in my face.

I don't think you get it.

 

[Beloved]

The main issue I have is the lack of consistency.

You can drive here at 16 (which is inherently dangerous), get a job, and consent to sexual activity (in most states). Yet you have to be 17 to see an R rated movie or buy an M rated game. At 18, you can vote, get married, run for public office, smoke (in most states), join the military, go to college, look at porn, get tattoos (without parental consent), and apply for credit cards. At 21, you can buy alcohol, gamble, and purchase guns. At 23, you can rent a car (age varies a bit though).

And the fact many of these laws vary by state just complicates the problem more (ie. in Alabama you have to be 19 to buy cigarettes, and in many states age of consent is 17 or 18, etc).

 

[Aaron Strife]

Still too low, raise it to 100

Ban cigarettes, legalize weed

 

[SolidSnakesMyStepDad]

The main issue I have is the lack of consistency.

You can drive here at 16 (which is inherently dangerous), get a job, and consent to sexual activity (in most states). Yet you have to be 17 to see an R rated movie or buy an M rated game. At 18, you can vote, get married, run for public office, smoke (in most states), join the military, go to college, look at porn, get tattoos (without parental consent), and apply for credit cards. At 21, you can buy alcohol, gamble, and purchase guns. At 23, you can rent a car (age varies a bit though).

And the fact many of these laws vary by state just complicates the problem more (ie. in Alabama you have to be 19 to buy cigarettes, and in many states age of consent is 17 or 18, etc).

Yea this is what I wanted to point out. The biggest argument I hear is that an 18 year old man can sign himself up for the military but not drink or gamble and now in some places smoke. Which is pretty ridiculous.

 

[Joey Fox]

young people of a certain age are not mature enough to make such critical decisions.
Easily manipulated, easily convinced, easily coaxed.

Joining the military is a good decision to make for many people. Should we ban college scouts and coaches from recruiting athletes too? How about band teachers?

 

[SolidSnakesMyStepDad]

Joining the military is a good decision to make for many people. Should we ban college scouts and coaches from recruiting athletes too? How about band teachers?

Why would we ban athletes and band members? I don't get your argument. You aren't risking your life with these things.

 

[Mercury Fred]

Good. Smoking is disgusting and it makes hideous right wingers very rich.

 

[Zeyphersan]

It's always fun how these threads quickly turn into "People aren't really people until their mid-20s, raise the age for everything". And by fun I mean boring.

 

[Epsilon-delta]

recruiters should be banned from school grounds,
I always found it disgusting that armed forces recruiters were allowed on school grounds to manipulate youngsters into signing up

What?!

Because of the military, I have no students loans and saved enough to buy my house outright when I got out. Plus, I got to travel around the world and visit places such as Paris, London, Madrid, Egypt, etc.

GI Bill + veterans status = no students loans & preferential treatment when applying for jobs.

The majority of enlisted service members rarely see combat as well.

The military is a win-win situation compared to the usual shit show of social mobility in the US: high school -> university -> students loans -> mortgage -> temporarily embarrassed millionaires

 

[Joey Fox]

Why would we ban athletes and band members? I don't get your argument. You aren't risking your life with these things.

Those have nothing to do with academics. Sports and music are professions. The military requires a base level of knowledge as well you know.

 

[KorrZ]

Kind of pointless, kids who want to smoke already aren't waiting til 19 or w/e it is in the US. In Canada (well Ontario at least) it's 19 and most of the kids I went to high school with were already smoking by 15-16.

 

[SneakyStephan]

Because making it illegal would make a bad situation worse. Also, while it is poison no doubt, as someone who is friends with a former meth head you're wrong! At least depending on how you define worst.

Worst as in least effective;
It doesnt get you high it just gets you addicted

 

[TarNaru33]

Worst as in least effective;
It doesnt get you high it just gets you addicted

What? lol, no.... Was this comment in jest or some type symbolic statement?

 

[Fantastical]

Good, now ban them entirely.

More drug legislation. What's the worse that could happen?

 

[Purkake4]

drinking allows for much worse immediate consequences

no one has ever died instantly after smoking a few cigarettes

but people have been killed after drinking a little bit and driving

Umm, house fires?

 

[Hyperactivity]

Good. I think a good way of regulating them would to be slowly, over time, reducing the amount of the actual nicotine and other crap that goes into the cigarettes themselves.

 

[CDX]

No, Hawaii.

I disagree with these 21 or older age restrictions on cigarettes. Giving fines or other punishments to 18 19 and 20 year olds for smoking in lawful areas where smoking is allowed is just ridiculous in my opinion.

 

[charsace]

This is fucking dumb. 18 is old enough to go kill people, but not old enough to drink or smoke?

 

[Mully]

Good for them. Smoking cigarettes, pot, and drinking alcohol should all be age restricted to 21. I used to be all about ID19, when I was underage, but it's pretty clear according to recent studies that most young adults are not done developing mentally and physically until their early 20's.

 

[Lambtron]

Good for them. Smoking cigarettes, pot, and drinking alcohol should all be age restricted to 21. I used to be all about ID19, when I was underage, but it's pretty clear according to recent studies that most young adults are not done developing mentally and physically until their early 20's.

Yeah, I agree with this. All three should be treated the same (e.g., thet should limit the advertisement of alcohol as much as they do tobacco) and given the same legal age.

 

[neoism]

Whatever state has this should also make inlisting 21 .... Fuck that make that in all 50 states. Hell this day in age lol. Almost no one is an "adult" at 18...... So you shouldn't be let to go kill for a country that won't let you drink or smoke smfh....

 

[Bessy67]

Meh, I don't see this doing much. Kids who want to smoke will still find a way to get cigarettes. Same with the drinking age. I probably drank more alcohol from age 17-21 than I have from age 21-28.

 

[AnAnole]

Do people really think smoking prohibition would be the same as alcohol prohibition? It's not like nicotine offers much immediate enjoyment compared to other drugs. People would have to flaut the law multiple times for something mildly stimulating, at best, before an addiction starts to develop. Only current cigarette addicts would really suffer under prohibition.

 

[Higgy]

Good. Ban them entirely next.

Yes let's create a black market and expand the war on drugs. We've seen how well that's worked out so far.

 

[Amir0x]

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/4/25/hawaii-lawmakers-to-raise-smoking-age-to-21.html

"Hawaii lawmakers on Friday passed a bill that would raise the legal smoking age to 21, positioning it to become the first U.S. state to do so.

The bill, which passed the state Senate by a vote of 19-4 after clearing the house last week, would also ban the sale, purchase or use of electronic cigarettes for those under the age of 21. Recent studies have found that e-cigarette use is on the rise among teenagers, even as they have abandoned regular cigarettes in droves."

Some counties already have it at 21, like New York and Hawaii County, but this would be the first state-wide age increase.

I'm a little on the fence. Cigarettes are fucking deadly, but I think people who can fight for our country should be allowed to smoke and drink.

Honestly, they could just make an exception if you feel that way... if you are fighting for our country, you can smoke and drink at 18. Voila, problem solved from your perspective!

 

[Primus]

What's interesting is that the smoking-age-raise really kind of came out of nowhere. Moving e-cigs/vapes to have the same restrictions as standard smoking with regards to where/when almost made it through the Legislature last year, the bill just came up too late in the session to get any momentum. So that was always going to happen, but raising the smoking age to 21? That was news on Friday.

 

[hateradio]

They should go after vapes next.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Honestly, they could just make an exception if you feel that way... if you are fighting for our country, you can smoke and drink at 18. Voila, problem solved from your perspective!

I do actually agree with that and have argued for that before.