I was not one of those who nominated this thread for special consideration, but I'm considering doing so because threads like this are important in order to keep us thinking and asking questions about why a war on tobacco exists. It generates a large, steady stream of revenue for governments but it is so vilified by the government, and their minions, that tobacco use generates all sorts of emotions in non-users just to be in the presence of a tobacco user. If we believe the World Health Organization's estimated number of tobacco smokers world-wide is approximately 1.3 billion as of the year 2003, and that number is expected to increase to 1.7 billion by 2020 then tobacco use will continue to be lawful and continue to generate large tax revenue.
I also think with the coming new regulations that it would be in our interest to point out to those who will listen that there probably is a great deal of difference between tobacco products sold by big tobacco companies and tobacco sold, or used, by small growers who do not introduce all sorts of additives into tobacco. We need to support the idea that there is a big difference between tobacco sold by the big companies and the small growers and give tobacco users a choice between the two.