I would like to say straight off I am not an anti-smoker, and I doubt I ever will be. And I apologise if the following sounds as if I am.
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Medically speaking, Nicotine is about the most highly addictive drug around and what is often overlooked is that it doesn't need to be inhaled into the lungs for it to have an effect. It can be absorbed into your system, just by puffing on your pipe/cigar/cigarette. As an example, Nicotine patches work by absorbing Nicotine through the skin.
I apologise now, but I disagree with John and Bubba when they say 'I've never experienced any sort of physiological need to smoke' and without wanting to sound insulting in anyway, it's somewhat akin to an alcoholic at an AA meeting saying he doesn't have a physiological dependency to alcohol.
Body says to Brain - 'Damn, I need some nicotine'.
Brain says to Body - 'I know, I'll tell myself I haven't had a pipe for ages and it's a really nice day outside, so Body can go pick up our pipe and go outside for a smoke because I like tobacco and I also like to relax at the same time. So, tobacco and relaxing. Is that OK with you Body"?
Body says to Brain - "Excellent idea, legs are already moving in the right direction"
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms are obviously more acute if you are a heavy smoker but even an occasional smoker will suffer some sort of symptoms, albeit that they may not recognise it as such.
In addition to the physiological dependency to nicotine, and what I have battled with for more years than I care to think about, are the psychological dependency. As an example, your routine may include certain set times or activities that lend themselves to 'lighting up a bowl'. There is also the 'act' of preparing the pipe for smoking that needs to be included. Combined with the physical dependency, it makes a very difficult thing to give up and requires a lot more mental willpower to give up than I am prepared (at this moment in time) to put in. There are also those that have problems because they have an addictive personality. So there are an awful lot more hurdles to cross than one might first think of. These psychological dependencies will also often override and overpower any physiological objections to smoke and tobacco.
I applaud people who make a conscious effort to give up smoking because it is not an easy thing to do. You may gain health benefits because of it, however, by definition 'giving up' means you loose something of what was (to some) an enjoyable albeit addictive pastime.
I think I shall now sit outside in the sunshine with my pipe and contemplate in detail, what it is that I don't like about smoking. I don't imagine for one moment that that will take as long as a bowl, so I'll have to think of something else to contemplate. Body says to Brain - "Excellent idea, legs are already moving in the right direction".
"A pipe gives a wise man time to think and a fool something to stick in his mouth." - C.S. Lewis
Sorta the opposite of a "gateway drug". An "exit strategy", and a damn fine one at that!
