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by camgunz 1457 days ago
> Sugar is absolutely addictive

Maybe in some sense of the word [0], but definitely not like nicotine [1]. [1] also addresses nicotine replacement therapies, finding that nicotine on its own is still addictive.

> Nicotine is naturally present in at least as many foods as sugar is...

Definitely untrue, it's like eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower, and a couple others.

> ...albeit in very low concentrations.

The amounts are comically low:

> ...you need to eat 5 kilograms of eggplant, 12 kilograms of fresh potatoes or drink 9.5 liters of tomato juice to get [a cigarette's worth of nicotine, or 3mg]. [2]

I don't really think there's an equivalency between 30kg of eggplant and 20mg of nicotine in a vape pack.

> Nicotine on it's own has a nootropic effect in normal doses, and a sedative effect in larger doses and is a very useful compound.

We have other things for this. Is there a need for nicotine as a sedative? Do we need to satisfy that need with bubblegum Juul?

[0]: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5174153/

[1]: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7724697/

[2]: https://thisnutrition.com/food-products-containing-nicotine