From: Nathan Meyer <???????????????????????>
Subject: Re: Pipes Digest #224 -- October 1, 1996

Steve-

This is my first post in response to the digest; if I have the protocol 
wrong, just let me know.  Feel free to edit the above out.

In the last digest a reader raised the cry that the recent FDA moves 
to classify tobacco a drug and cigarettes drug-delivery-systems signal 
eventual classification of pipes/cigars and their tobacco forms 
likewise.  This is not good according to the contributor.

I am afraid that thinking like this is precisely why this country of ours 
is in the muddle it is in regarding drugs.  Let's be real with ourselves 
here: TOBACCO IS A DRUG. So too are coffee, alcohol, cocaine, marijuana as 
well as a host of other substances.

Our government does have the right to protect citizens from the acts of 
other citizens.  Hence reckless driving should be controlled.  The 
misrepresentation of products should be controlled.  The use of tobacco 
in public places (as compared to private homes and clubs) should be 
controlled.   Unfortunately the government, aided by misguided 
citizens, has also chosen to regulate individual choice: eg. seatbelts in 
cars, motorcycle helmets.  The use of drugs is simply another example.

Another astute reader pointed out that the likely crime implications of a 
prohibition on tobacco.  Look at our drug regulation problems NOW!  We 
are spending 100s of Millions of Dollars on regulating individual choice.

Instead of fighting the inherent truths: 1) tobacco is a drug and 2) 
tobacco is harmful if abused, we should be focusing our energy on ridding 
our government of its abuse of our rights as individuals in many areas.  
Consistency will win the day.

N.

[ I quite agree, Nathan, that tobacco is a drug.  The problem is that
the director of the FDA is not acting out of some sense of academic
pedantry, but rather to extend the domain he controls.  The term
"drug" is also perjorative (though it shouldn't be; aspirin is also a
drug.)

We shouldn't lie for our cause, true -- but neither should we trust
men of unlimited ambition. -S. ]


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