AIBU to wonder the future of smoking

[GloGirl]

I come from a 'smokey' family and know lots of people who've smoked - tried to quit, quit entirely, or never stopped. Happy to say I quit a few years back and will never take it up again now, my lungs wouldn't let me.

I remember having an argument with someone a couple of years ago that in our lifetime (So another 50 years) we will see the banning of smoking entirely in the UK. I think the governments have done a great job banning smoking in work environments, raising the prices etc and I can see the effects of those policies reducing smokers.

I just wondered what you saw the future of smoking to be now? Would it ever be banned? Are there any more measures to take which could reduce the future further?

Not sure that marijuana will be legalised? I hope it won't be, if nothing else I had heard they wouldn't be likely to legalise it as it would lead people to a tobacco addiction? (As most people smoke it?)

Floofy my understanding is that popcorn lung is caused by a flavouring, diacetyl, used in microwave popcorn and some vape flavours which have a buttery flavour.

Popcorn lung was a big scare. There's more of that ingredient in cigarettes and I believe it's not used in vape flavours now

Marijuana will be legalised, it has numerous medical and general therapeutic benefits it can be vaped as well as eating many people who appreciate its benefits do not use it with tobacco

I don’t know if marijuana will be legalised; surely it only has medical benefits to the small percentage of people who suffer with, for example, chronic pain. If you don’t have the condition it relieves, it’s of no medical benefit to you. (Same as paracetamol is only of medical benefit for you if you have a fever or a headache- no one recommends using paracetamol 4 times a day for its ‘medical benefits’)

Regarding cigarettes- they have no medical benefits, only healthy side effects. Even alcohol has some proven health benefits (such as red wine etc), cigarettes have none. I’m amazed at how the vaping craze has taken off, but I’m sure I read somewhere that they still have some risks and aren’t a completely safe alternative. Plus the nicotine in them is just as addictive- I wish there was more support for people to actually quit, properly, rather than switch their addiction to something else.

nicotine may be strongly addictive but in and of itself it's not harmful it's a mild stimulant like caffeine and has some neuroprotective effects against for example Alzheimer's

Marijuana is enjoyable and can be used to help you relax and just feel better, you don't have to have an illness to benefit from it it can be used to enhance your life

Cannabis is in no way the same as paracetamol, cannabis is a psychoactive substance it is used recreationally for its psychoactive effects
Your analogy suggests that you do not think it is valid to use something purely for its recreational effect

I believe cannabis probably will be medically licensed in some form, I really doubt it will ever be available for recreational use.

What a refreshing change ro see a sane and rational smoking thread here.

I personally think the health benefits of the smoking rate falling are a ticking time bomb. Fewer people will die at relatively young ages so the bills for pensions and old age care will rise. Give it 30 years and the chickens will come home to roost. I'll probably be dead or senile by then so it won't be my problem.

I disagree with many of you. It will always be legal because of taxation and I suspect it may well come back into fashion with people who want to be cool or edgy, always a minority but I reckon it's very unlikely to die out completely.

I heard an interesting opinion that cigarette smoking is a gateway drug to Class A drugs more than marijuana is. Of course many smokers will never progress beyond that but i don't there are any heroin addicts who don't smoke cigarettes.

Julia that’s exactly my point- and I cannot see marijuana being legalised for recreational use. Medical maybe, but not because it is fun to get stoned (if in fact, you believe this to be true).

And it’s only of medical benefit to someone who has a condition that can be alleviated by using cannabis- hence my analogy to paracetamol- in that a medicine is not useful to someone who doesn’t suffer with the condition. It’s only a small percentage of the population who have such conditions. I’ve worked with drug addicts and in the prison service for many years, and I assure you, the vast majority of cannabis users are using recreationally and not for medical reasons.

I’ve worked with drug addicts and in the prison service for many years, and I assure you, the vast majority of cannabis users are using recreationally and not for medical reasons
I fail to see how working with drug addicts and in the prison service gives you insights into the vast majority of cannabis users

The law regarding the legal position of cannabis for recreational use is changing rapidly around the world. It has been decriminalised in many countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal etc etc. Cannabis has been fully legalised in 9 American states, including California and will be legalised in Canada in a few weeks.

It’s only a matter of time befor3 the law changes in the U.K.