As a former smoker, I think the tobacco regulations are GREAT!

[WeDidIt]

Smoked for more than two decades.

The regulation of the quantitiy of nicotine is the key. Slowly decreasing the amount allowed in a cigarette will, over time, allow all who currently smoke to quit.

[Mari333]

1. 1 month here smoke free

I got mad when the SCHIP taxes came into play. Im not paying taxes on that. I dont like when the bankers get rich and the poor people end up paying taxes to supplement anything.
anyway, I know tobacco was smoked for centuries and I always wonder what the nicotine levels were before big business got a hold of the product.

[lunatica]

16. Congratulations! You're past the hump!

I smoked two packs a day for 30 years. I quit 15 years ago through being a part of the test group of the anti-smoking drugs that are used today. Not a day goes by that I'm not grateful that I don't smoke anymore.

Just remember, smokers have a wagon too, and just having one cigarette can make you fall off.

Every once in a while I get a strong urge to smoke, but having quit many times only to start up again thinking I could just smoke one little cigarette I resist. The urge only lasts for a moment though.

[Mari333]

20. thanks

it took a number of things to do it. the SCHIP bill pissed me off. then I made a pact with my oldest son who had only smoked for 2 yrs and he stopped too..we dont do it to keep the other one from not doing it. it works.

[applegrove]

22. Congrats on your quit. Don't forget to log onto the quitnet.com if you

feel weak and need support from hundreds of quitters at one go.

[DrDan]

2. and the regulation of those changes that attract children - like flavored tobacco

that needs to be monitored and regulated

[Bandit]

3. While people here constantly try and defend their tobacco habit

I would bet none would want their children to start or if given the opportunity to have a second chance on whether to start smoking in the first place would actually do so..I defend a person's "Right" to smoke in the nprivacy of their own home but as soon as they take it public it no longer is just their "rights" that are involved..Smoking in public should be illegal...PERIOD

[FailureToCommunicate]

5. I defend our "right" not to have to pay for smokers' "rights" even IF in private...

Private is better from a public nuisance point of view, but what about the huge health care costs that all of us rate payers bear when those smokers get sick - are we "free" to not pay up for their care?

[Mari333]

8. obesity and smoking are pretty much nose to nose on health care costs

so you could argue also against fast / processed food and the consumption of it, same argument.

[FailureToCommunicate]

9. Agreed, but not quite the same: Are there 1000 deaths per day from fast food products?

And those are just deaths (not sick care) and just for the U.S...

[WeDidIt]

10. I WISH they regulated fat

My problem now is obesity.

[FailureToCommunicate]

15. You've acknowledged the problem, so that's a good step. Yes We Can!

[Mari333]

6. smoking while walking down the street should be illegal?

what?

[WeDidIt]

12. I think it should.

I haven't smoked in nearly ten years.

When I catch a whiff of cigarette smoke while walking down the street, all of the old cravings hit me again.

[Mari333]

13. oh so thats why lol

well I dont think I should tell people what they can consume on public streets lol. I stopped smoking but if they want to do so, okay. It actually doesnt bother me for some reason.

[lunatica]

23. It's illegal in all buildings, restaurants and bars here already

It actually makes it easier to quit when you aren't around smokers. That helped me.

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

4. one of the most frustrating experiences I ever had

was to quit cold turkey
made it almost four days
then caught a buzz from someone's second-hand smoke
and started up again

F!

[sagetea]

7. I smoked for 20 yrs.

and the last 10 I rolled my own using American Spirit Tobacco. I quit on May 5, 2009, it was a lot easier than I expected. I had no idea that because they use JUST tobacco, no fillers or additives, that the addiction was, dare I say less? than it is from other tobacco company's.

I was raised to believe that tobacco is the chief herb and must be held in respect and honor, but I did abuse it and became addicted to the action of smoking. I agree that regulating the nicotine is the key to quiting.

[Oilwellian]

11. Or....they will smoke more

to get the same level of nicotine the body is accustom to.

[On the Road]

14. That's What I Understand Happens with Light Cigarettes

The nicotine per cigarette is reduced, but smokers tend to compensate by smoking more and getting more tar, carbon monoxide, and other toxins.

[boomalator]

17. Phillip Morris is supporting this bill

because it will give them an advantage in the market. They are on top now and if this bill passes it will level the playing field by restricting new products and marketing. That will effectively freeze the current market share for each company and will prevent any new companies in the tobacco industry from ever becoming competitive or for existing competition to Phillip Morris from gaining market share.

All tobacco companies except for Phillip Morris are vehemently against this legislation.

[david13]

18. 24 years here smoke free!!!

[8 track mind]

19. Hell yeah!

i smoked for 10 years, camel's lucky's and Marlboro reds. 2 pack a day habit. I came to the conclusion that it was killing me and i quit cold turkey. I freaked out for three days, but i coped with stuffing my face and going through huge amounts of sunflower seeds. It's been 6 years now!!!! woo hoo!

[Maru Kitteh]

21. It was Tic-Tac's for me!

Boxes and boxes of them. Boy was my breath minty, lol.