If There Were No Nicotine in Pipe Tobacco...

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Mar 1, 2014
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If there was no nicotine in pipe tobacco would you still smoke. Or would you smoke less? What about other people would there be a decline in pipe smoking.
I probably already know enough people who could modify and breed a Nicotine Free strain of Tobacco, the real question is whether or not the government would care what the Nicotine content of the plant is. Laws are rarely practical these days.
 
Mar 1, 2014
3,658
4,960
That would be like alcohol free beer of caffeine free beverages. What would be the point?
Most diet sodas are caffeine free.
Every grocery market stocks Decaffeinated coffee.
I don't know how popular alcohol free beer really is, but Caffeine Free beverages are mainstream.
People are commonly motivated to enjoy special drinks for exactly the same reasons Pipesmokers would continue smoking pipes without any stimulant associated.
 

warren

Lifer
Sep 13, 2013
12,300
18,324
Foothills of the Chugach Range, AK
I probably already know enough people who could modify and breed a Nicotine Free strain of Tobacco, the real question is whether or not the government would care what the Nicotine content of the plant is. Laws are rarely practical these days.
You miss my point. The OP asked the "what if." If there was no drug in the leaf, no one would have smoked it after trying it once. It alters the brain and people eons ago attributed "magical" powers to it, started to cultivate it, using it for rituals. Europeans and others were attracted to the "hit" and so, an entire economy was developed, agriculture, manufacturing, advertising, etc. No nicotine, no customers. No matter what the "deniers" profess, the "hit" subtle though it may be is what keeps us smoking. The very idea of any legislation against the weed or tax increase can make some here near hysterical.
 
I have perfected a process to cure lettuce ? in various ways. I can air cure, flue cure and fire cure lettuce. I am casing them with sugar solution, and top some of them with various flavors like vanilla, cherry ? etc. I can even press them in a barrel, so it cures in its natural juices. I see a ready market here, who will smoke it in a pipe!
 

tzinc

Can't Leave
Mar 24, 2021
346
1,395
Toronto
I know very little about smoking. I just started smoking a pipe recently only because I always thought it looked cool I remember my dad smoked one as well when I was very little. When I hit middle age I decided to do the stuff on my bucket list one of which was give the pipe a go.

I didn't realize I was getting nicotine even if I didn't inhale. I am getting some obviously but I don't think I notice it. I don't have the urge to keep doing bowls all the time.

I like the ritual, the tradition, the aesthetics, the zen like quality of the process. Also I actually enjoy the smell and taste of tobacco (not aromatics). This kind of reminds me of coffee or whisky I actually enjoy the taste and ritual of having an occasional coffee or glass of whisky. I am very much a sipper. The effects are secondary. I realize I am probably in a small minority. Lol.

As an aside I don't think that the government cares whether there is nicotine or not in tobacco I think they only care that it is associated with disease.