Posts by Lisa Morales4

Jamie Newman40, I wouldn't go so far as to say communicating through visual language is "retarded."

My background in Media—covering everything from print to digital—is a bit of a professional obsession. Here in the States, kids aren't just taught to read, interpret, and analyze plain text from a young age all the way up through their SATs; they’re actually developing the skills to read and deconstruct VISUAL TEXT. We're talking about posters, advertisements, graffiti, commercials, web design, cartoons, photography, VFX, or even things like camera angles and shot composition.

The 21st century is truly the visual century—it belongs to a generation raised on the flashy, high-gloss advertising of Coca-Cola...

😘

Just get on with it!

Just wanted my little Aussie Kid to take note so they don't end up needing a patch later. 🙂 :

Smoking just isn't good for you or your body. Once you get hooked, walking away isn't as simple as it sounds. It’s honestly better to never pick it up in the first place. Hmmm... smoking... definitely not a smart move. Wouldn't it be much easier to just stay away from it entirely? Quitting is tough, sure, but never starting is much easier.

Go easy on the smokers. (50 sec) E.v.e.r.y. single cigarette takes 7 MINUTES off your life!!!

Electronic cigarettes -- containing nicotine can be found in the USA, China, Israel, Turkey, and several European countries like Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Canada.

If you look on e-Buy, they cost ...

Nicotine-free herbal cigarettes in the USA

Those graphic warning photos on cigarette packs in the USA, dating back to March 2006, actually convinced my mom to quit smoking 👍

The warnings take up about 30% of the front and 90% of the back of every pack.

Gross!

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Yeah, yeah, yeah... It's a shame to see it still out there...

Good luck quitting! You've got this. 👍

Lilly My professor would be more than happy if I actually turned in what Jamie Newman40 wrote... she takes the exact same approach to the problem.
Drugs—and I’m talking about everything from cigarettes to coffee—are right here among us. They always have been, and they always will be. People are going to use them, just like they use anything else that alters their mood, whether that's bungee jumping or driving a little too fast. Instead of fighting the inevitable, let's just focus on harm reduction.
Even though I get the feeling she might not be my biggest fan—probably because she catches me with a cigarette in my hand right before every lecture, haha—I honestly think she has an incredible approach to the whole drug issue. It would be well worth your time to check out some of her presentations.
From what I’ve gathered so far, the approach here in the States is much more laid-back, and honestly, I really dig that. More importantly, though, there's actual proof that this way of doing things works better than in other countries that still cling to that old-school "crush anything we don't like" mentality.

Hey there.
That one photo you posted—the black and white one with the smoke figures? It’s honestly incredible.
Are these actually public service campaigns? If I saw an ad like that on TV, I wouldn't even realize it was supposed to be anti-smoking, haha.

Lill, I honestly don't think your editor cares one bit about what kind of "attitude" someone has. Teachers don't really take a personal "stand" on things, nor do they get emotionally invested in the material they're teaching; especially since the curriculum covers... Factually speaking.And let's be clear—this isn't just propaganda.I'm not here to try and sell you on anything.And without all that constant bashing of people struggling with addiction or those who find themselves caught up in the misuse of drugs—that’s just not how we should be doing this. It doesn't matter. She isn't here to justify drug abuse or show any sympathy toward addicts; she simply isn't being paid to sit around thinking about them or looking out for your best interests (unlike me, little one). 😘 )

Besides, when he sees you with a cigar, the only thing crossing his mind is that you’re basically representing a $16,000 windfall for her institution. She really loves you., He tries his best to make you happy and goes out of his way to ensure he doesn't upset you, yet once he's back home, he’s off chatting with his girlfriends about those "girls from the old country who lived like it was the 19th century"—back when nobody even realized how much smoking could actually kill you.

I actually dig those photos too... It’s not that they’re "against" smoking—it’s just that they are all about the smoke itself. They're genuinely good, really artistic photography, ha!
Comparisons work. You could probably pull off some pretty awesome artistic photography like that right after a nuclear blast. ...

Kokuz >>>
So, he's asking how someone is supposed to manage their anger? Honestly, I think the best move is just to bring in five or six people to help de-escalate things and calm the situation down. If you don't, the whole thing is just going to blow up in your face.

...

Everyone seems to be an expert on the health risks of smoking, but nobody ever stops to ask the real question: why does anyone do it in the first place?

Hey, stubborn head! 😘

Walter Cox5 Just so nobody gets the wrong idea and thinks I’m out here advocating for smoking... I'm definitely not, and I never have been.

Look, I mean, my grandfathers used to smoke, too... but there’s a massive difference. They were smoking actual tobacco, not all this synthetic chemical crap that people are inhaling nowadays. Despite that, they still lived to be nearly 100.

On the other hand, my daughter was the very picture of health and vitality. She was such an athlete, always active and full of life, yet she was diagnosed with cancer—one of those incredibly rare types—and passed away when she was only fifteen. It’s hard to wrap your head around because she never touched alcohol, never smoked, and never even had an unhealthy diet.

So, you weren't a smoker yourself? Maybe not an active one, but certainly a passive one; a second-hand smoker 😢

Your grandparents lived a different kind of lifestyle—not nearly as stressful or fast-paced as ours—so when it comes to health, they definitely had a bit of a head start

I am so sorry about your daughter... there isn't anything that can undo what happened, but for her sake, let's look at these sources I found (your post prompted me to dig into this; I hadn't really thought about the implications of smoking or not smoking quite this deeply until now):

Cigarette smoke alters DNA in sperm, genetic damage could pass to offspring (June 1, 2007)

PHILADELPHIA -- While science has established for a long time that smoking causes cancer, new research indicates that children might actually inherit genetic damage from a father who smokes. ...

Or

Smoking 'could pass damage to offspring' (June 1, 2007!!!)

Scientists stated today that men should quit smoking long before their children are born if they want to improve the health of their offspring.

Researchers in Canada believe their latest study suggests that children could inherit genetic damage from a father who smokes. ... ... ...

Lead researcher Dr. Carole Yauk commented: "This suggests that damage is related to the duration of exposure, so the longer you smoke, the more mutations accumulate, making it more likely that a potential effect may arise in the offspring.

"We have known that mothers who smoke can harm their fetuses, and here we show evidence that fathers can potentially damage offspring long before they may even meet their future mate."

She added: "While some men say they'll quit smoking after their child is born, this represents a good reason to quit well in advance of trying to conceive."

Or

Tobacco smoke carcinogens, DNA damage and p53 mutations in smoking-associated cancers. (October 2002)

As you can see, these sources are scientifically recent... who would have known before this?

...

jadetiger10 said:Well, if it still hasn't clicked for you guys yet,🙏 that was a pretty vivid and colorful way to put it, chasna99😉

you’re the one inspiring me! 👏

🙂

Bradley Diaz48, did nobody ever teach you a thing or two about ANGER MANAGEMENT ?!!

There are honestly so many different ways to deal with your anger... lighting up a cigarette is probably the absolute last resort on that list. 😳

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Here in the US, when you're feeling pissed off, just sit down, put your feet up, write out whatever is bothering you, and then just move on with your day.

Writing helps blow off some steam!

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It's definitely smarter than smoking!!!

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Beneficial health changes when you stop smoking

Stopping smoking is always urgent but never too late. Every cigarette smoked damages the lungs in a way that may not show up until later in life. After the age of 35-40 years every year of continued smoking loses 3 months of life expectancy.😲 Many smokers think that they will be more miserable when they stop but actually all the evidence is that they will have better mental health and be happier.

Some of the health benefits from stopping smoking can occur quite quickly as the table below shows. Other health improvements may take many years, depending on how long a person has smoked.

Time since quitting Beneficial health changes that take place

8 hours Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduce by half, oxygen levels return to normal. Circulation improves.

24 hours Carbon monoxide and nicotine eliminated from the body.

48 hours The decline in lung function and excess risk of lung cancer halts.

1 month Appearance improves – skin loses its grayish pallor and becomes less wrinkled

3 - 9 months Coughs and wheezing declines

1 year The excess risk of a heart attack reduces by half compared to that of a smoker.

15 years Risk of heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked.

🙂

When Smokers Quit: the health benefits

For the vast majority of smokers, quitting smoking is the single best thing they can do to improve the length and quality of their lives.

The health benefits of quitting occur for all types of tobacco users, men and women, young and old. Even those who already have smoking-related problems such as heart disease can benefit.

When you give up tobacco, your body starts to renew itself as early as the first day of quitting.

After 8 hours:

carbon monoxide in your body drops.
Oxygen level in your blood increases to normal.

After 2 days:

Your sense of smell and taste will improve. You will enjoy your food more.
Your risk of heart attack begins to decrease.

After 3 – 4 days:

Bronchial tubes relax and your lung capacity will have increased, making breathing easier.

After 2 weeks:

Blood flow improves; nicotine has passed from your body.

Within 2 weeks to 3 months:

Circulation will improve, making walking and running easier; lung functioning increases up to 30%.

Within 6 to 9 months:

You’ll experience less coughing, sinus congestion, tiredness and shortness of breath.

After 1 year:

Your risk of heart disease will be about half of what it would have been if you continued to smoke.

After 5 years:

Your risk of stroke will be substantially reduced; within 5 to 15 years after quitting, it becomes about the same as a non-smokers.

After 10 years:

Your risk of dying from lung cancer will be about half of what it would have been if you had continued to smoke.
Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas will also decrease.

Within 15 years:

Your risk of dying from a heart attack is equal to a person who never smoked.
Other benefits of quitting

Although reducing your chances of premature death and illness is important, they aren't the only benefits of quitting smoking.

You’ll finally be back in the driver's seat—cigarettes won't be calling the shots for your life anymore.
Your confidence and how you see yourself will get a real boost.
There's a genuine sense of pride that comes from beating something this difficult.
You’re going to find you have way more energy for the hobbies you actually care about.

Then there's all the other perks:

You won't have to worry about being a bad role model for the kids in your life (including your own siblings).
Just think about all the extra cash you'll have once you stop spending money on packs, lighters, ashtrays, and matches.
You'll likely look and feel much younger, too. It's a known thing that smokers tend to develop deeper wrinkles much earlier in life.

Even your wardrobe might last longer since you won't be risking accidental burn holes.
Quitting also helps with bad breath. Let's be honest, a lot of people aren't exactly thrilled about kissing someone who smokes.
Plus, you won't deal with everyone constantly pestering you about when you're finally going to quit.
No more dealing with stained teeth, yellowed fingers, or that lingering scent.
Whatever your workout or hobby is, you'll notice your stamina and overall performance jump up once you quit.
You won't have to stress over whether a restaurant allows smoking or if you're allowed to be in a certain spot.
Gone are the judgmental looks and that heavy feeling of guilt.
Remember, it is never too late to make the change.

Staying Smoke-Free

No single cigarette is worth sacrificing your health or the well-being of those close to you.

If you've managed to quit within the last six months, just remember you're likely still building this new lifestyle. It took a long time to pick up the habit, so give yourself some grace while you unlearn it.

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Withdrawal symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms are essentially the physical and mental shifts that happen when you stop using a substance. Usually, they're just temporary side effects of your body and mind trying to adjust to the absence of a long-term habit. For smokers, this might include:

Withdrawal symptom

Irritability / aggression
Under 4 weeks
50%

Depression Under 4 weeks
60%

Restlessness
Under 4 weeks
60%

Poor concentration
Under 2 weeks
60%

Light-headedness
Under 48 hours
10%

Night-time awakenings
Under 1 week
25%

Craving
More than 2 weeks
70%



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You might experience a dip in your mood, too. Smoking actually lowers your serotonin levels—those essential brain chemicals responsible for making you feel good.

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Think of cigarette smoke as a toxic cocktail of various poisons.
From what we currently understand, cigarette smoke is a lethal mixture containing roughly 4,000 different chemicals. Some examples include:

sixty-nine specific carcinogens, such as arsenic, benzene, cadmium, formaldehyde, and radioactive polonium-210.

other hazardous substances like hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and carbon monoxide, which are known to trigger heart disease or other serious medical issues.

Masking the sight and smell of smoke
Internal records from the tobacco industry—which finally hit the web due to legal battles here in the United States—show that they specifically used additives to make second-hand smoke less noticeable and irritating.
Certain additives were designed to make the smoke less visible, while others were meant to hide the scent, utilizing things like nutmeg oil, coffee extract, cinnamon, or vanilla.

Burning
Burning most of the dangerous chemicals in tobacco smoke are formed through the many chemical reactions that occur as the cigarette burns.
When organic materials like tobacco leaves burn, they produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Additionally, the sugars added to the cigarettes turn into formaldehyde once they are ignited.



what smokers don't realize is that they are often in denial

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At its core, smoking is a nicotine addiction.
When you're dealing with an addiction, your thinking isn't exactly rational anymore.

Additives
Hundreds of chemicals are added to cigarettes in order to improve the flavor and make them easier to inhale. This includes the inclusion of ammonia, an irritating gas that actually ramps up the addictive pull of the nicotine.

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Nicotine as a drug
In terms of dependency, nicotine works much like heroin or cocaine. It's just as difficult to break free from as those "harder" drugs.
As a stimulant, nicotine raises your heart rate and impacts various systems throughout your brain and body. That "high" people seek comes from nicotine triggering the release of dopamine in the brain – a chemical linked to feelings of pleasure.

The sheer volume of the 599 additives that the US government for use in the manufacture of cigarettes is something every smoker should see. Submitted by the five major American cigarette companies to the Dept. of Health and Human Services in April of 1994, this massive list of components was kept hidden from the public for a very long time.

The tobacco companies involved in reporting this data were:

American Tobacco Company
Brown & Williamson
Liggett Group, Inc.
Philip Morris Inc.
R.J. Reynolds

Tobacco company while these ingredients are approved as additives for foods, they weren't ever tested for what happens when they are burned. It is the combustion of these substances that alters their properties, typically making them much more dangerous. The act of burning a cigarette creates over 4,000 chemical compounds, many of which are highly toxic or carcinogenic.

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physical addiction to nicotine — that incredibly frustrating and overwhelming compulsion to smoke, regardless of how inconvenient it may be.

psychological dependence — that nagging feeling that you simply can't handle life without a cigarette, or the fear that you'll never actually have fun again once you quit.

habit — the automatic reflex where you reach for a light the second you walk into a bar or try to decompress after a grueling workday.

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Quitting smoking is actually quite simple...
"I've done it 100 times!" — Mark Twain

So, what exactly is the Nitch?
The Nitch is just NICOTINE ITCH

And ITCH stands for:

Irritating
Time Consuming
Controlling
Horrible

Basically, to keep things from smelling like a chimney, manufacturers add all sorts of stuff to cigarettes. Masking most of the dangerous chemicals in tobacco smoke are formed through the many chemical reactions that occur as the cigarette burns, creating about 4,000 different chemicals within a single cigarette.

cancer-causing chemicals
• Tar - a cocktail of nasty chemicals
• Arsenic - commonly used in wood preservatives
• Benzene - an industrial solvent derived from crude oil
• Cadmium - often found in batteries
• Formaldehyde - used in paint production and mortuaries
• Polonium-210 - a substance that is highly radioactive
• Chromium - used in making alloys, paints, and dyes
• 1,3-Butadiene - utilized in rubber manufacturing
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - a group of hazardous chemicals that damage DNA
• Nitrosamines - another set of DNA-damaging chemicals
• Acrolein - which was previously used as a chemical weapon
• Other chemicals

Back in the day, they kept all this under wraps, but nowadays, with everything being so transparent, the truth is plain as day.🙂

Back in 2001, estimates suggested that 5,400 young Americans would lose a middle-aged father and 1,770 would lose a middle-aged mother because of tobacco smoking.

And that is why :

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Driven by both legislation and public outcry, the US government has implemented some of the strictest anti-smoking regulations in the country. The latest updates went into full effect on July 1, 2006.

These updated laws are designed to benefit customers, employees and smokers who are trying to kick the habit, ultimately creating a better atmosphere for everyone.

Welcome to a cleaner, healthier United States.

Anyone caught smoking in the newly designated smoke-free zones could face immediate fines of $150.

Business owners may also face court-ordered fines.

Under the new tobacco regulations that started on December 31, 2005, any minor under the age of 18 who lies about their age to buy smoking products is committing an offense and could face penalties as high as $1,500.

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time for a daily check-in...

... NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!

Jamie Newman40 said:I'm not talking about accidents; I'm talking about vehicle emissions.

But that’s exactly the point, my friend! It all comes down to the fuel and everything else.

Down here in Phoenix, we are gradually replacing our city buses with Greyhound units that run on hydrogen fuel cells rather than pumping out toxic fumes. We've had them since 2004, and they're becoming increasingly common. They aren't cheap—around $500,000 USD per bus—but it pays off for the city in the long run because we save so much on healthcare costs for smokers, who are becoming fewer and farther between, which means more funds can be shifted toward healthier options.

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Work is also being done on manufacturing eco-friendly personal cars, with the goal of making them cheaper and accessible to everyone.

You see how much it matters:

cigarette smoking, dirty industries, wars, and the act of spraying toxins into the very air we share with future generations.

It really is far, far behind progressive thinking, healthy practices, and investing in a sustainable future...

Jamie Newman40 said:@ Lisa Morales4

I think you're missing the point.

If you're taking your child to places where smoking is actually allowed, then you aren't being any more responsible than the smokers themselves. The issue seems to be that you feel people should have to bend to your will regardless of where you are. Smokers don't have any right to light up where it's legally prohibited, but where it is permitted, you really don't have a leg to stand on.

Honey, I honestly can't think of many places here in the US where you'd run into smokers, unless we're talking about private spots like apartments or balconies—maybe in certain neighborhoods... I know plenty of former smokers in my own circle who all decided to QUIT SMOKING once they moved here to the US! It’s not worth it, they say; everything feels healthier now, and there are so many better things to spend money on than cigarettes!

In nightclubs, discos, and bars, smoking is strictly banned.
The only exception is in a specific area like the Bellagio's lounge. 🙂

It's also banned at sports stadiums; at all major US sports venues, you can't smoke within 10 yards of the entrance. It's banned in parks too, because of the playgrounds, and many beaches explicitly forbid it as well. Even at those beaches where it might technically be allowed, you wouldn't see anyone doing it anyway, because why would you ruin a healthy walk along an ozone-filled beach with the stench of a cigarette?

If I were back home in a place where these kinds of smoking bans were unimaginable, I probably would have still been a smoker myself. 👎

See, a healthy environment actually saves us! 🙂

Anything that isn't healthy is just unhealthy, plain and simple.

Anthony Kim18 said:just like fast food or air pollution.
Do your friends ask if they’re allowed to start their car when they're standing near you!?

Tobacco Smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Smoking causes more than 19,000 deaths each year - 80% of all drug-related deaths, and around 11 times the number of road crash fatalities. (THAT'S 11 TIMES THE FATALITY RATE OF CAR ACCIDENTS!!)

Every day, 52 Americans die from diseases caused by smoking!
[US population: 330 million]
(American Cancer Society)

... it seems like we can live without cigarettes, but we just can't live without cars. 😎

By the way, what happened to that discussion about Nazi Germany in Latin script from last night?

Anthony Kim18 said:And why on earth would they need to?

😲

because smoking is a silent k.i.l.l.e.r

Lilly, I always looked up to my aunt and grandmother. They were true ladies, and they smoked. Of course, their lifestyle wasn't quite like ours today—life was less stressful back then, and tobacco production and processing were cleaner without all the additives they use now. Still, it caught up with them both in different ways: one was a passionate smoker until her very last breath and ended up needing an amputation for her leg and a finger, while the other was actually a nurse who quit... though by then, it was already too late, 😲 lung cancer, vascular issues, and heart disease.

Back then, the tobacco felt purer than this capitalist stuff where you can't find a single trace of actual tobacco leaf 😈 hehe; I wonder if it was Philip Morris or whoever else lost that case against smokers who were supposedly POISONED (really?!) by their own damn cigarettes??!! (check out the link! man, listen to how they talk about those millions of dollars in damages!)

Anyway, don't stress about when you'll finally quit; that day will come when it's meant to 😘

Maybe you just haven't truly sat down and realized how much you actually smoke yet. Once you do quit, you'll be a much better witness to the fact that people really can change, and a better example than someone who never even picked up a cigarette to begin with.

BE SMARTER THAN SMOKING!

jadetiger10, what's gotten into you!? You're on my side, Jose Kim 👍

Jamie Newman40

I can't help but wonder if you're actually reading my posts, because your replies don't seem to have anything to do with what I'm saying. The health risks of smoking aren't really up for debate; the real conversation should be about how we actually write and implement the laws that regulate it.Sure, you can regulate just about anything with the right legislation, but the real question is where we draw the line between protecting basic human freedoms and the government stepping in to micromanage our lives.

Nowadays, when everyone seems to have a grievance, the easiest way to handle things is to pass laws that isolate or restrict "the others." This approach ends up directly impacting freedoms, both for individuals and for groups. Take, for instance, when the government regulates smoking in restaurants and bars under the guise of health concerns. By granting non-smokers the right to breathe clean air, they automatically end up limiting and persecuting smokers. In my view, business owners should be the ones to decide. They should have the freedom to choose whether to allow smoking or not by simply labeling their establishment as a smoking or non-smoking venue, thereby leaving it up to the customers to decide if they want to walk through the door. Strict legal bans only serve to increase government interference in our daily lives. Ultimately, by targeting smokers, these laws indirectly restrict the freedoms of non-smokers as well.

The health risks associated with smoking aren't really up for debate; the real issue lies in how the laws regulating it are actually implemented. There you have it. 👍

It seems like everyone over there is getting pretty worked up about "government interference," but honestly, these anti-smoking regulations aren't actually rooted in US federal law. Just take a look. List of countriesThink about true democracies that actually prioritize social welfare for their citizens—places like Norway, Australia, or Canada. These are the types of nations that have already stepped up and implemented strict anti-smoking laws.

I can only imagine the look on the faces of those folks who live by the whole "smoking gun" culture—people who feel they have the absolute freedom to carry a loaded firearm everywhere, yet suddenly find themselves unable to even light up a cigar. 😁 That's just a total nightmare!

That’s just your subjective opinion. While you call it protecting the health rights of non-smokers—effectively stripping smokers of their freedoms—I prefer to see it as the freedom to decide what's best for myself. No one is asking non-smokers to "refuse" anything; they are simply being informed that a venue is a non-smoking establishment, and if they choose to walk through those doors, they do so at their own discretion. Similarly, if a restaurant owner decides to implement a No Smoking policy, they are simply letting smokers know that if they want to light up, they should find a different spot. It all comes down to freedom of choice.

It’s not really my own assessment—I don't claim to be that smart—I just read it on Wikipedia. Do you need the exact link to that paragraph? 🙂

Of course we need to protect workers. First off, when you're hiring someone, you should be upfront about whether it’s a smoking establishment. You could install high-end air purifiers and filtration systems, then simply leave the choice to them: do they want to work in an environment like that or not? On the flip side, if it's a No Smoking venue, make sure the staff knows from the jump that there's no smoking allowed on the premises. If they want to smoke, they can head outside, and if they aren't okay with that, they should probably just find a different place to work. It all comes down to freedom of choice.

"installing filters"??? I highly doubt
WHO thought of that when they were busy lobbying for those anti-smoking laws.
"freedom of choice"? In the US, "freedom" is just a fancy word for anarchy.

Are you actually okay with this?

As a mother, you should be the one deciding what’s best for your child. There shouldn't be the government sticking its nose into your life or your kid's business.

If the "government" hadn't stepped in to shape my life, I'd probably be working a machine in some factory right now instead of being an internationally recognized Bachelor of XYZ.

Sometimes I actually wish the (USA) government would step in a bit more regarding my child's upbringing. 🙂

I'm not saying the points above aren't valid, but it feels like people use this kind of data to hunt for a single scapegoat while the real culprits stay hidden behind the scenes. What about industrial pollution, car exhaust, everyday chemicals, or genetics?

Yeah, I know the USA has been lagging behind for decades—trailing other developed nations that regulate pollution at a national level, while here in the States, these efforts feel like little more than high school science projects.🙂

Maria Harris said:Well, fine! I’ll just come out and say it: I’ve used weed plenty of times in my life and I never became an addict. If you like it, go for it. You don't get hooked on weed. Honestly, I don't really know anyone who hasn't tried it 😁

"Trying it" isn't the same thing as SMOKING

But "trying it" leads to more --- and eventually, you need a higher dose every single time just to feel the same way

Smoking Marijuana is addictive

Marijuana stays in your brain for three weeks!!

Cannabis doesn't actually have any medicinal ingredients; people often mix it up or blend it with tobacco

Smoking or trying weed paves the way for using heroin later on

Jamie Newman40,

Let me build on what you're saying here. I’m speaking quite plainly—just someone offering a perspective based on more than just an opinion, but also on a certain kind of intuition for... The common good.:

Whether we should allow smoking in restaurants can be settled through legislation or a referendum. It’s common practice when you look at it from the perspective of the greater good and the need to consider the big picture. After all, the majority makes the rules. For example, Washington secured a No Smoking policy in restaurants through a referendum. Since then, air quality in dining establishments has improved fivefold, while customer visits and overall restaurant profits have actually gone up.

There are plenty of benefits to having smoking bans in restaurants, especially when you look at how it impacts the whole business. Implementing these rules results in a multitude of benefits for The Management and safety of The restaurant , including decreasing The sick time of employees. Plus, you see a significant Reduction in Workers Compensation claims and Fire insurance premiums. It just makes sense for everyone involved.:

There’s a significant reduction in heart disease deaths.Medical research demonstrates that second hand Tobacco smoke causes 35,000 to 40,000 excess deaths per year in the U.S. alone.

Research suggests that the idea of having more smoke-free restaurants is actually quite promising. Getting people through the door is always the biggest challenge in this business. It’s about more than just having a great menu; it's about creating an atmosphere that makes folks want to stick around. You have to find that sweet spot between being welcoming and maintaining the vibe you've worked so hard to build. Whether it's through local word-of-mouth or just consistently delivering on what you promise, building a loyal following takes patience and a genuine connection with the community.A recent study out of New York shows that about 96 percent of people surveyed are eating out just as much—if not even more frequently—since the smoking ban for restaurants went into effect.

Results in a multitude of benefits for The Management and safety of The restaurant , including decreasing The sick time of employees Management and safety. It results in a multitude of benefits for The Management and safety of The restaurant , including decreasing The sick time of employees, limiting liability regarding the health of staff and customers, and lowering the overall risk of fire hazards.

Results in a multitude of benefits for The Management and safety of The restaurant , including decreasing The sick time of employees Lowering carbon monoxide levels makes a huge difference.Carbon monoxide is a known contaminant found in Tobacco smoke. We know that when levels of carbon monoxide rise, it can lead to headaches, chest pain, fluctuations in blood pressure, and nausea.

Reduction in Workers Compensation claims and Fire insurance premiumsWikipedia.

Furthermore, when you look at those "highly private bars" where non-smokers are essentially told to back off or just get rejected, we aren't really talking about individual liberty anymore. It’s not just about one person's freedom to smoke; once you're in that setting, you become part of a Group. And a Group is fundamentally different from an individual.

What's going on? Protecting workers. Are people really working in those bars?? It’s crazy to think they're forced to deal with second hand Tobacco smoke just because they can't find work anywhere else.

Jamie Newman40 And that’s exactly what’s going to happen. If they managed to push through a ban on smoking in restaurants and bars, just you wait—they'll be knocking on your door next.

Well, look, if it's the law, they've got every right to come knocking on my door if I'm smoking. I am sorry, I don't understand what you mean by "iza". Could you please clarify? Those doors... especially since I have a kid at home. 🙂 I'm basically just hovering around him at home and making him deal with my secondhand smoke. Talk about having a social worker show up right at your doorstep...

Smoking bans vary quite a bit depending on where you are in the world.

Interesting:

Certain beaches in New York City, USA, actually have smoking bans in effect.

Starting March 1, 2006, in the US state of California, smoking has been prohibited at all covered train platforms as well as bus and tram stops.

In the US state of Florida, smoking is... PROHIBITED within four metres of entrances to public buildings , within 10 metres of children's playground equipment within four metres PROHIBITED within four metres of entrances to public buildings , within 10 metres of children's playground equipment, PROHIBITED within four metres of entrances to public buildings , within 10 metres of children's playground equipment I'm looking into some stuff regarding commercials. outdoor Designated eating and drinking zones are strictly monitored by security patrols. There's nothing quite like a day at the beach....and at all major sports stadiums.

USA Has a federal law prohibiting The manufacture and sale of All smokeless Tobacco products. The sale of Oral snuff and chewing Tobacco Has been banned since 1989 under The trade Practices Act 1974

...

Fifty years ago, 72% of the population in the USA were smokers;
By 2004, that dropped to just 19%—with women at 16%.

Tobacco smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in the USA. Smoking causes more than 19,000 deaths each year —accounting for 80% of all drug-related deaths, and roughly 11 times the number of road crash fatalities. (That is 11 TIMES higher than deaths caused by car accidents!!)

Every single day, 52 Americans die from diseases triggered by smoking!
[USA population: 21 million]
(Cancer USA Org)

...

interactive world smoking bans

BE SMARTER THAN SMOKING! 🙂

Lilly >>> well, everyone has their own opinion...

👍

Jamie Newman40 said:What are you basing that on?

Give me some examples.

it would be off topic; either way --- it'll get cut!

Nathan Kern77 >>> exactly, they don't. explain that to us Americans where plenty of people are struggling just to make ends meet, yet somehow they're burning through a pack or two every single day...QUOTE]

Maybe those are actually the people who need some legislative help; at least then we could protect them from smoking during work hours or while they're hanging out at the mall or a local coffee shop. If they finally realized they could get through those times without a cigarette—just like they aren't smoking in their sleep—then maybe they’d actually decide to try quitting at home, too. Honestly, these folks just don't know how to find the willpower to quit once they start. It's tough, isn't it?

And as for those cafes that only stay in business because people can go there to smoke and fill the air with toxins, rather than actually being a place to socialize, grab a coffee, or enjoy a meal—those places really ought to be shut down.