I saw a post by u/cathole953 about tobacco (https://greatawakening.win/p/141En6FXWh/serious-question-do-you-guys-thi/) and it reminded me about an interesting article I read recently.
https://veilofreality.com/2017/09/05/the-health-benefits-of-tobacco-and-cutting-through-the-anti-smoking-propaganda/ (I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING THIS ENTIRE ARTICLE)
I got to his thread a little late so I figured I'd open a new one.
The overarching question being asked is, "Is tobacco as bad as we've been told, or have we fallen victim to yet another massive propaganda campaign?"
The article further goes on to suggest that perhaps we've been completely brainwashed and programmed into fearing the tobacco plant, which has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal herb.
It really makes you wonder.
In short, the anti-smoking propaganda is based on lies and very corrupted science. There is also a HUGE difference between natural additive-free organic tobacco and commercial cigarettes. Commercial cigarettes are filled with hundreds of added chemicals that shouldn’t be in there, to begin with.
I discussed this topic with my family after first reading about this, and a question came to my mind that I never thought about before...
When your doctor says "smoking causes XYZ", do they EVER bother to make a distinction between smoking a raw tobacco leaf, and smoking commercial cigarettes loaded with hundreds chemicals? No they do not.
When you fill out paperwork at the doctor's office, and it asks "Are you a smoker?", does it ask "Are you a smoker of chemical-laden commercial cigarettes?" or "Are you a smoker of natural tobacco leaf?" No, it does not.
Does it make a difference? Hell yes it does. Even if commercial cigarettes had ONE synthetic chemical in them, it would make a difference. They have hundreds, and nobody is calling this massive oversight into question.
This is about as nonsensical as saying "food is bad for you" without making a distinction between fresh veggies and McDonalds.
Now there is, of course, a valid argument to be had about the carcinogenic properties of consuming all combusted material (grilled meat, joints, cigs, etc).. assuming that's not based on bullshit "science", too.
But combustion aside... are we being manipulated about tobacco? If so, why?
This is a discussion worth having.
My overarching theory, as pointed out in my original post you mentioned, is that this was the start of the "dumbing down" of the west. It's still moderately acceptable to smoke in public in most eastern countries. But it's all been vilified in the west. So now, we're all losing out on the neurological benefits of nicotine.
As some other people pointed out in my post, the rise of vaping throws a wrench in this entire narrative. Vaping has ALL the benefits of smoking, without any of the drawbacks, but it also has the added benefit of actually clearing out your lungs and sinuses of any congestion you may have via the literal super heated water vapor you're breathing in.
Someone else mentioned the Tobacco Master Settlement, which is basically one of the largest ponzi schemes in the world. Big Tobacco companies pay states for the harm inflicted to smokers in their states, and the states have been borrowing against these fund for decades to the point they've spent all of this money years in advance. So there's the corrupt financial incentive as well, at least in the USA.
Overall, I'm utterly convinced this is just yet another cabal tactic to manipulate our health for their social and financial benefit.