Pop, you and I are simply on different pages. Yes, tobacco is legal. Yes, we all know that prohibition does not work. No, I would not make it illegal. I have no problem whatsoever in taxing it out of existence, which has worked well so far. 10 years ago in Alaska, a pack of cigarette's cost $10. There are not many smokers in Alaska. Who knows what they charge today.
My post is not about tobacco laws. My post is about the lack of morality and ethics of the producers and distributors of tobacco, as well as the Tea Party types who worship corporate America and find it to be as pure as the driven snow. I mention opium because of the addiction aspect that it shares with tobacco. I smoked for 37 years, up to 2 1/2 packs per day, so I know exactly how addictive nicotine is. I repeat my central theme, which is that there is a legalized corporate industry in this country that sells addiction and death for a profit, and there are many fools in this country that just don't see what is wrong about that.
I smoked for five years (yes I am serious) without big tobacco or any large corporate entity assistance whatsoever. Growing your own is quite easy and really really inexpensive.
Your persecuting the legal buyer because of greed of corporations is no different then my example used in alcohol
The difference appears to be that the social cost of alcohol is acceptable cuze most people like a belt while watching the game.
You do understand that the producers of alcohol are big corporations, Right?
The OP is trying to get you to understand that science does not back up the health concerns as much as you think they may.