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 I,
unfortunately, still find myself among the millions of Americans, who
smoke cigarettes. Yes, it's a very bad habit to pick up. And, an even
harder one to quit. "If I had a nickel" for every time I tried to quit,
or even thought about quitting, well, you know the answer to that
hypothetical question.
Many who read this will surely
agree with my thoughts and good intentions. However, smoking is an
addiction. It is not a far cry from any other type of addiction. Drugs
and alcohol are not far behind. That's right, I said drugs and alcohol
aren't far behind.
The honest truth about
cigarettes is that they are far more addictive to the "average" person than any
other "illegal or illicit" drug on the streets today. Why, may you ask? Here's
the answer: the federal and state governments make millions, if not billions, of
dollars from taxes on tobacco products every year and they make these products
readily available for virtually anyone to purchase. That, my friends, is the
sole reason that smoking hasn't been "banned" in this country altogether.
 Think about it. If the United
States of America completely banned smoking, making it illegal, just think of
all the money our country would lose in tax revenue. Do you think Congress would
really allow a "prohibition of smoking" to happen? I'm guessing no. Mainly
because Congress will probably need to "vote" themselves into a raise after the
spring session is over and then, they are all off for the summer...just like
school children. Well, they have to pay for those yachts and beach-houses
somehow, you know? The prohibition of alcohol didn't work in the 1920s (for very
long) for three very good reasons: (1) there was a demand for the product, (2)
people were willing to pay money for it, and (3) the US government was able to
regulate sales and could profit from it as well, in tax revenue.
The same holds
true today, as far as cigarettes are concerned. Well, in a way....sort of.
In the state of Ohio, it is
illegal to smoke a cigarette in a public or private establishment. Whether it be
a restaurant, bar, or club. Luckily, I happen to be in the privacy of my own
home as I write this. Otherwise, I might be facing a $100, $500, or maybe even a
$1,000 fine for partaking in perhaps, one of my last civil rights as a citizen
of this great country. That is, until they outlaw smoking in your own home as
well. I'm sure that many of our local restaurants and bars have felt a
definitive impact on their sales due to the smoking ban. I don't really go "out"
much these days but I know for certain that, in some cases, a few of our local
business' revenues half been cut nearly in half. Yes, half. In case you didn't
know, half of "what you used to make," is a LOT. How some of these places stay
in business is a mystery to me.
And now, four days ago (as of this writing), the state of Ohio has deemed a tax raise on tobacco products sold
"within" it's borders. This tax raise amounts to 70 cents per pack of cigarettes
bought within the state of Ohio. So, basically it comes downs to this; you
cannot smoke in any public or private establishment in the state of Ohio without
the possibility of facing a (up to) $1000 fine but, we (state of Ohio) are going
to charge you an extra 70 cents a pack to give you the "opportunity" to keep
your rights as a citizen, and a smoker, as long as you smoke in your own home.
Now, I am certainly not writing this to "defend" smoking. I would love to quit
and, by July (my 40th birthday), I sincerely plan on doing so. I am writing this
to defend and uphold all of our rights as Americans. Smokers do not deserve
special treatment, But, neither do non-smokers.
It is our right to do as we please. Cigarettes ARE NOT illegal and smokers should NOT be treated as
criminals. Perhaps the Federal government should just do everyone a favor and
simply outlaw tobacco once and for all. I know they want to. Besides, it would
make all the non-smokers happy and I could probably get a pack of my favorite
brand down on the corner without paying the tax. But, America wouldn't like
losing that money, would they?
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