Note to smokers

[nadinbrzezinski]

Yes I have been highly bemused by the many smokers defending their addiction. Yes, it is an addiction. In fact, one of the strongest addictive agents known to man. Why? Not because tobacco in its natural form is that addictive... oh hell no. It is that addictive by the process that makes essentially crack tobacco... and it is legal. The process, in fact, is not that different from making crack cocaine, and why cocaine is far more addictive than the coca leave.

So here we are at a point where many of you are in denial, just like my father whose habit is fifty years old and running. (Yes he has emphysema, and COPD... and had a triple bypass... and he still smokes, addiction is that strong)

Reality is that your habit can send me to the local emergency room, or the local ICU unit... or the cemetery... due to my asthma.

One of the irritants in your smoke is cyanide. You know where else cyanide was used? Here is a hint, the death chamber at St Quentin State prison in California.

Another one of those major irritants is Carbon Monoxide... yep, may make your lips look a little redder, but that is because it is taking the place of Oxygen... and CO is not conducive to life.

Of course there are about 100 additives in your cigarettes, and most of them are in a list of Hazardous Materials that HAZMAT specialists deal with on a regular basis with.

Now this is not to tell you to stop smoking. I can't tell you to do it, nor will you listen... until you face that choice yourself, I don't expect you to quit. In fact, most of you will die a smoker... again that is the force of physical addiction.

But... I don't want you or need you to smoke in my local restaurant. No, I am not finicky about eating... and tasting my food. I am just finicky about breathing. You know that thing called life and breathing is conducive to life.

Now I would not ban your habit... just as I will never ask to ban alcohol... in fact I am all for legalizing drugs. But I want your habit to be highly regulated and highly taxed... and I would love it if by law the tobacco formula used in your cigs was changed to its natural form. It would be less damaging and chiefly addictive to you. The high may not be as good... but if you chose to quit, it would be that much easier.