| > can't buy smokes at all ever They can, they will be available on the black market along with every other widely used illicit recreational drug. Banning tobacco won't make the problem disappear, people want their poison, including sensible rational people who accept the risks and use in moderation. Banning tobacco will push it underground, giving criminals a new revenue stream which can fund more harmful activities. Not only will the govt lose out on tobacco tax, they may have to ramp up law enforcement expense to crack down on the now illicit tobacco trade and ever more empowered criminals. Users of the black market products will have no guarantee of quality assurance, products may contain additional harmful additives. There's an optimal level of tax and regulation to keep distribution out of criminal control, educate the general public, and offer support to the serious victims, all the while collecting tax to fund these activities. This is precisely what many countries are already doing to varying degrees. And the same argument can be made for many vices, including gambling and alcohol. |