Buzz
Yesterday, I received an email from the FDA, which included this sobering statement: “[C]igarettes are the only legal consumer product that, when used as intended, will kill half of all long-term users.”
It’s not new information, but it’s still a grim reality.
If cigarettes were invented today, I like to think that we'd collectively laugh off their creators and have them facing consequences from agencies like the FDA. A product you burn, that emits harmful smoke, and will ultimately kill you if used consistently? Plus, it’s addictive, engineered to make you keep using it? There's no logical reason for cigarettes to remain legal. Maybe you're not keen on government control, but right now it’s the cigarette companies pulling the strings on what we should be doing.
Specifically, they’re encouraging us to casually light up carcinogens and breathe in the toxic fumes. As an added bonus, they’re putting the health of everyone around us at risk. Why on earth would anyone want that?
The FDA is finally addressing the issue (how long have we known cigarettes are harmful?) but in a roundabout way. Last year, the FDA revealed that they have the power to regulate nicotine levels in cigarettes, and they plan to impose a limit lower than what’s considered addictive. If you have thoughts on this, now’s your chance! They recently opened a public comment period.
If this plan moves forward, you won’t even be able to claim you’re smoking due to addiction. You’ll be inhaling toxic smoke for absolutely no reason. Good luck to the tobacco industry, which will probably still find a way to heavily market it anyway.
