The Smoking Thread

When I was in my 20's, many of my friends smoked. For a while, I would smoke cigarettes with them in social situations. However, I started to like it. I decided to limit myself to once cigarette per month. Then I moved to Baltimore, away from that crowd. I have not smoked my monthly cigarette in 30 years.

I have smoked marijuana on a social basis since high school. For that, I make no apologies.

Quote: Gandler

Skoal has some good flavors. I like Apple. But, maybe its just me, I get it stuck in my teeth, I just find pouches cleaner and less objectionable. Even Snus, I prefer pouches (portioned) over loose snus, I just don't like loose tobacco in my mouth.

I only really had that problem with fine cut, but I'd assume it's more likely since you go top shelf. Bottom row and you're putting it in well below your teeth.

Anyway, I still liked the Renegades for that reason. I remember trying the apple a very long time ago and did not like it. I only like Mint or Cherry; I did not even like Wintergreen.

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I have to disagree with you there. I am not saying dip is safe, but its far safer than smoking. Even using the worse forms of smokeless tobacco (loose traditional dip) is leagues safer than smoking as far as survival rates. Even if you get mouth cancer (which is rare, its actually more common in smokers), you usually survive.

250k people a year die from smokeless tobacco (74% of which are in India). As opposed to smoking 8 million a year (not counting second hand smoke deaths).....
https://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20150902/chewing-tobacco-kills-more-than-250000-people-each-year-report
500k Americans die from cigarettes every year, that is almost double than all smokeless tobacco deaths across the world.

Mouth cancer is generally survivable if you get regular dental checkups (and again smoking actually causes more mouth cancer than dip along with many other issues....)

Smokeless tobacco is very popular in India. They have a unique version of it in which the tobacco leaves are dried and ground into a fine powder. It looks kind of like the snort snuff, but from what I can tell, they put it in their bottom lip. The majority of it dissolves and, from what I can remember (the owner of the first hotel brought me back some to try once) it doesn't taste like much of anything. Maybe slightly bitter?

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That being said smokeless tobacco refers to literally any kind of tobacco that does not involve smoking, oral snuff, chewing tobacco, nasal snuff, snus, etc.... So even if you rule out dip (oral snuff), nasal snuff and snus are regarded to be extremely safe (something like 98-99% safer than smoking, with the main risk being the increased BP from nicotine, similar to using caffeine regularly, virtually no direct damage from the tobacco itself, even dip -the "worst" form- I think is like 92-95% safer than smoking in terms of long-term survival ratings). And, of course there are now endless completely tobacco free alternatives which are even safer (nicotine patches, nicotine pouches, lozenges, gum, etc....) For example, I would probably say nicotine patches are probably the absolute safest way to consume nicotine (it absorbs through your skin so it has no way to damage any of your orifices), of course I am happy to be corrected if I am wrong.

I believe you. I smoke for more than the nicotine. Were I inclined to quit smoking at this time, which I'm not, I'd doubt if I would even try to replace the nicotine. I'd probably just chew gum and drink a lot more caffeine, maybe try to find some caffeine gum. As a stimulant, nicotine doesn't really move me all that much either way, only caffeine helps. I can go several hours without smoking and feel no real overall difference in energy. If I attempt to drink less than three-four cups of coffee in a given morning, I'm absolutely worthless the rest of the day. Can barely get out of bed.

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Yeah, I fully respect the rights of nonsmokers, and will always abide by the rules of an establishment and social cues (for example I have been at clubs where friends have asked me and others to not smoke at the table, and I always oblige even if others make snide comments, for me that is not the hill to die on). If I am somewhere where smoking is prohibited I would never smoke (which is easy for me, because I specifically seek out smoking places when I want to rarely smoke). But, I think when it comes to adult entertainment (bars, clubs, casinos) it should be up to the establishment to allow or prohibit smoking, and then people can naturally go where they prefer. For example I would probably generally prefer to be nonsmoking 99% of the time, but if I am in a smoking mood I can choose to go to a smoking club. I can understand cities wanting to ban smoking in places like schools and hospitals and places where people both don't have a choice to go, and there are children. But, I think generally bars, clubs, casinos should be allowed (again legally speaking, it should be up to the management to set their own policies and enforce it how they wish, if they want full smoking great, smoking sections great, separated smoking rooms that are ventilated great, no smoking at all great, their choice, and customers can choose to go or not go).

I tend to think there is no reason not to be polite. Even if I'm in a place where smoking is permitted, if I happen to be sitting next to a person and they are not smoking (and there's no visible evidence that they do smoke), I'll ask them if smoke bothers them. They'll occasionally say something like, "Yes, but this IS the smoking section," and I'll just reply, "That's true, but you were here first. You're probably adding three minutes to my life, or something."

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I am not a marijuana fan. I a not saying I have used it illegally, but I don't like the concept of it, and the concept of how it would feel very awkward and not enjoyable. As far as drugs that alter perception, alcohol is easily my favorite (and its conveniently legal).

I am honestly afraid to try cocaine. I love stimulants, so I would probably love it (so its probably best that I do not try it because I could see myself getting addicted). Though speaking of dip, there are certain parts of South America where coca leaves are made into an almost snuff type substance and either dipped or chewed which gives you a steady but more mild effect, this seems like something that I would enjoy (though due to laws would never try, however if I ever moved to a country where it was not a legal issue I probably would try it, I could see myself enjoying it very much).

https://www.tni.org/en/primer/coca-leaf-myths-and-reality

I can say with all honesty, nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine are my favorite drugs, which luckily are all legal in the U.S. I do think other drugs (especially marijuana) should be legalized. But, to me its not worth the legal risk for something that I would probably not even enjoy that much compared to legal and socially acceptable alternatives.

I do not recommend trying cocaine if you like uppers at all. It's a wonder that I didn't get hooked, even with how few times I used it.

The only drug I really care for is caffeine. I'd probably smoke cigarettes even if they didn't have nicotine.

Quote: Wizard

When I was in my 20's, many of my friends smoked. For a while, I would smoke cigarettes with them in social situations. However, I started to like it. I decided to limit myself to once cigarette per month. Then I moved to Baltimore, away from that crowd. I have not smoked my monthly cigarette in 30 years.

I have smoked marijuana on a social basis since high school. For that, I make no apologies.

I'd recommend not trying to catch up in one day! JK

As I understand it, didn't you smoke clove cigarettes when you smoked with friends anyway? I thought you mentioned that once.

Quote: Wizard

I have smoked marijuana on a social basis since high school. For that, I make no apologies.

Of course not; why should you?

Let me rephrase that: why should you, given today's political / social climate?

Back in the Day such an admission could be seen by many as very damning and could arguably have prevented you from working in the field of your choice.

Kudos for coming out of the cannabis closet, and kudos to the states who have finally loosened up their laws re: cannabis.

Now it's time for the Feds to finally remove cannabis as a schedule I drug from the Controlled Substances Act.

Quote: Mission146

I'd probably smoke cigarettes even if they didn't have nicotine.

I am starting to think we are related.

Quote: DRich

I am starting to think we are related.

Maybe I'm your reincarnation and you just failed to die when originally planned! There are two of you!

I don't believe in souls, though, of course.

Well, it's official the FDA is banning menthol cigarettes (with the one exception being menthol e-cigarette or vapes), and more alarmingly (at least to me) all flavored cigars. This is totally absurd, flavored cigars banned? Why?

If they ban flavored smokeless tobacco (which luckily is not on any agenda, at least yet), I may be furious at the overreach.

Quote: Gandler

Well, it's official the FDA is banning menthol cigarettes (with the one exception being menthol e-cigarette or vapes), and more alarmingly (at least to me) all flavored cigars. This is totally absurd, flavored cigars banned? Why?

If they ban flavored smokeless tobacco (which luckily is not on any agenda, at least yet), I may be furious at the overreach.

I thought they could not do anything for months due to procedural whatever.

Quote: AZDuffman

I thought they could not do anything for months due to procedural whatever.

It will be a long process. But, they had to determine by COB today their decision. And, they decided to move forward with the menthol ban and they decided to suddenly add on a ban for all flavored cigars. My guess is you will still be able to by menthols through the end of the year. And I would also guess people will both stock up on menthols and infused cigars (as cigars can stay good for decades if you store them properly), and there will be a popular for pre-ban flavored cigars (just like there still is for pre-embargo Cuban cigars, of course as they are now sixty years old they are crazy expensive).


https://www.businessinsider.com/collectors-clamor-for-pre-embargo-cuban-cigars-2015-5

I would guess even cheap gas station cigars (like a 99cent vanilla black and mild) will 3-4X in price, if not more, by the end of 2022 if the ban goes into effect by the end of the year. These kind of regulations only make legal products more difficult (and sometimes dangerous) to obtain for adults (and far more expensive). Either this or people will just order cigars online (as this as far as I can tell will remain legal) from foreign countries for flavors (though this will also be more expensive....)

Can you add menthol after you buy the plain product?