Legalization of Pot Good for Tobacco Industry, Sales, & Use?

[cmdrmcbragg]

Being from a state that legalized marijuana for recreational use (Colorado) I feel the need to chime in:
I'll say first off that I am 28, a navy veteran, a dad and a gainfully employed full time employee and full time student. Marijuana has not ruined my life or caused me to be a blight on society. Like anything in life you must moderate usage and also maintain. I used to smoke weed regularly while doing everything I normally do: homework, cleaning, making meals, etc. basically if I was at the house, there was a good chance I was going to smoke some herb during the day. Some people drink a couple beers/glasses of wine to take the edge off of the day, for me it was smoking a bowl ... not of pipe tobacco.
I can't smoke for the time being because of court mandated no-fun from a DRINKING incident (which wouldn't have occurred if it was just marijuana, but ya take your lumps and learn).
Colorado hasn't come apart at the seams, Denver isn't engulfed in a cloud of smoke. The antis of weed are exactly the same as the anti-smoking zealots. No difference. They all cry about the same thing and point to every little negative they can hear or find the same way. I sit on the libertarian fence and believe you should be able to do whatever you want to your own body as long as you are responsible, pay the price and take ownership of what you do. If that means higher insurance premiums, so be it.

 

[necron99]

And people bought that line, hook, and sinker. Seems fewer people are capable of critical thinking. I blame tv. Problem is Governater what ever his name is probably buys into his own bullshiza.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

As for the tobacco as socially accepted argument... if you'll do a little research, tobacco has always had this fight between anti and pro tobacco folks. This is not new at all. Durring the 1700's there were laws that said that you could beat a man smoking a pipe in public, and various other atrocities throughout the years. Even in America there have been laws regarding tobaccos, especially cigars in the late 1800's. The 1970's was probably the golden age for smokers, and then the argument began again with science taking the lead this time. This is not some new ideal that has just sprung up. We may not have lived through the other struggles, but they'be been happening ever since Columbus returned with his wild stories of smoking natives.
As for pot being legal making it socially acceptable, phhht! on that. Liquor is legal, and I don't think of it as acceptable at all. Maybe, it's because I'm in the Bible belt, but walking out of a bar is probable cause for finding a boot in your neck. It's just not accepted here, except in the hickville parts of the state maybe. Sure, you can buy liquor, but being seen in a liquor store is just like being seen in a gay adult bookstore. Drunks are drunks, and if you're going to live with that sin and you want to be a part of our community, you'll keep it in the closet. Same with pot, sure, maybe one day you can buy that here, but I don't see someone being able to smoke that crap and ever hoping to be a valued member of the community. The local law enforcement here already makes plans for perfecting their nets when they bring concerts through, and everyone cheers at how many potheads they rake in on these days. Putting drunks and potheads in jail is a sure way to make people smile down here in the sunny South.

***personally, I don't care what someone wants to do to themself. I just speak of the socially acceptability of this culture here. The churches here will line up deep to stop a new bar or store that wants to carry liquors or beers, and we have some of the largest stretches of lands where it is prohibited 100%. Some have to drive for an hour to find a store to appease that itch. And, everyone seems to like it that way.
That aside, I would think that the pot industry would be shivering in their flip-flops also at what the FDA is doing to tobacco. It's not just a move to limit us; they are trying to run the companies that process the tobacco into bankruptcy with testing their products and etc... Anyone wanting to get into the business of pot growing or processing may have to follow the same processes of getting their products tested, which is expensive and time consuming. That means only the deep pockets like Big Cigarette will be able to afford the processes and they'll scoop up these small blenders... and possibly Big Pharma and Big Cigarettes will be the only ones who can afford to process pot.

 

[numbersix]

Maybe, it's because I'm in the Bible belt, but walking out of a bar is probable cause for finding a boot in your neck. It's just not accepted here, except in the hickville parts of the state maybe. Sure, you can buy liquor, but being seen in a liquor store is just like being seen in a gay adult bookstore. Drunks are drunks, and if you're going to live with that sin and you want to be a part of our community, you'll keep it in the closet.

8O

 

[profpar]

Pipe tobacco and marijuana have polar opposite cognitive affects. The former increases capacity for cognition and meta cognition by causing the smoker to be more reflective and contemplative. That latter renders the smoker incapable of individual thought.

 

[txbeerboy]

I know that marijuana can add humor to the worst day, and a pretty girl can render you incapable of individual thought much quicker than marijuana. I am sure that some folks think masturbation will cause you to go blind. Not true I am married and I have 20/20 vision. :rofl:

 

[claypipesarchaeologist]

I'm not here to argue about whether or not there are medical benefits to marijuana. That would be OFF TOPIC. But, like it or not, it is a growing belief that pot can perform significant and highly varied medical functions. Tobacco does not have this claim to fame and implied "innocence" (I'm not getting high, I'm taking my medicine). But, medicine is not always good for you and is not always necessary. I would argue that the U.S. is over medicated.
I recommend that anyone who is interested in the American perception of the differences between smoking tobacco and smoking marijuana google.images and punch in those two things, separately. Hell, have a window for each and put them side by side, if you can. BIG difference.
Now, why would tobacco companies support the legalization of marijuana? I can think of a two things.
1. People who smoke pot usually end up smoking tobacco, in one form or another. NOT the other way around. Spliffs, blunts, or just enjoying the sensation of smoke in the mouth while the body high kicks in.
2. Vaporizers. I can only recall one tobacco place I've been to that doesn't sell vaporizers. They aren't just good for a nicotine fix with fruity shit flavors. People put pot oil in them. Two different products conveniently and inconspicuously administered by the same, small device. These things may be a fad here, maybe, but I hear tons of people have them around there necks like pendants in Europe and it's been going strong over there.
Basically, Big Tobacco knows this pot legalization thing is coming. They know it has been for a long time. You'd have to be an idiot, a wuss, or a greedy politician (forgive my redundancy) to believe all of that Reefer Madness crap (and, like it or not, alcohol brings out more aggressive and/or dangerous behavior than pot). At the end of the day the answer is usually "money."
:P FYI, for you old farts who don't know what pot is like these days, it is industrialized, chemically sprayed, and genetically engineered. It's as natural as a grapple and much stronger than it was when you were young.

 

[claypipesarchaeologist]

txbeerboy: Hahahaha! It's funny because it's sad :rofl:

 

[12pups]

txbeerboy, thanks for the update. Still, I pass. No offense intended. Just want if anything to keep this about tobacco use benefitting from the legalization of marijuana. (Oh, and there are some health benefits to tobacco, but you have to look them up because propaganda is too loud against tobacco right not).
I think the *most* that can happen, sensibly, is that pot would get the same restrictions as tobacco. Can't smoke it in public places. Have heavy taxation. LImited abilty to ship it.
If that's the case, then pot is doomed *with* tobacco.
But it smoking grass is celebrated, then how can it not be used to resurrect the acceptance of tobacco?
There. I think I've finally stated that cogently.

 

[homeguard95]

Vaporizers. I can only recall one tobacco place I've been to that doesn't sell vaporizers

Speaking of vaporizers, I seen a dumbass carrying and smoking one of those things in the Home Depot the other day, strutting like he thought he was something special. I had never seen one being carried out in public before the other day, and I always pictured these things were about the size of an e-cig but His Was at least 7 INCHES LONG AND AS WIDE AS A CHAIR LEG!!!!
I hate vaporizers.
Ps. Sorry if that was kind of off topic but this thread reminded me of it.

 

[sailorjeremy]

It's hard to tell what the outcome will be because the restrictions on the usage of pot are more comparable to liquor and yet, it appears as the logistical and pecuniary aspects of it will eventually be similar to tobacco. I think regardless of what end of the spectrum it falls on after this "trial" period, the restrictions will be a bit extreme and the pot industry will eventually become a competitor for the tobacco industry as is becomes more socially acceptable.

 

[txbeerboy]

I mentioned this earlier tobacco smoking has a doomed image. Marijuana can not save tobacco. The images of James Dean leaning over a pool table smoking is not being put out there. Ugly toothless people in wheelchairs is the image of smokers today. Every one knew tobacco smoking was bad for you, but when the tobacco people lied in the face of everyone I believe they shot their image in the foot. I think marijuana will be regulated like alcohol not tobacco. If you are not allow to drink and party there I bet you will not be allow to smoke marijuana there either. However, I am guessing at the future I honestly don't have a clue what is going to happen. I wish they would lighten up on tobacco personally.

 

[andrew]

In a nutshell. This chick has become the posterchild for liberal logic memes on the internet.

 

[txbeerboy]

Wow! andrew it is to late at night for a picture like that. Two more shots of bourbon and he is going to start looking like a woman . :rofl: