CHANGE SUBSTANCES RATHER THAN QUIT SMOKING

Ever notice how a new study comes out every year saying that eggs are
either bad or good? The general public can't decide whether it's a
good choice to eat them altogether.

The evidence for the harmful affects of smoking cigarettes has more
dramatic results, but many Americans still can't decide if they want
to quit; some don't want to quit. Up until the 1980's, the majority of
American doctors said it was safe to light up. This makes some wonder
what exactly we are doing today that could be just as harmful.

Television, major news periodicals and the Internet relay information
about smoking in ads called "Truth" in the attempt to "think of the
children." It's startling viewing ads revealing the tobacco companies
used cartoon characters to appeal to children and put ammonia in the
cigarettes they sell to make the natural nicotine chemical more addicting.

One ad explained that a tobacco company lobbyist informed Congress in
the 1980's that the Czechoslovakian government saved money when people
died at an earlier age from smoking. What a cheap attempt to justify a
dirty business.

These ads are paid for strictly by the tobacco companies, particularly
Phillip Morris, at the demand of the federal government.

Before anyone can mention the name "Phillip Morris," one must be
familiar with their parent company Altria. Altria was formed in 2003
as a public relations scheme. When Phillip Morris was blamed in recent
years for the deaths of 400,000 Americans they decided their
reputation needed a new image, possibly one without blood on its hands.

The Web site www.satirewire.com pokes fun at Altria, stating "when you
hear 'Philip Morris,' you think lung cancer, no matter if you speak
English or German or Cantonese." The fake news story explained since
Phillip Morris changed its name to Altria, the term "lung cancer" will
be changed to "Phillip Morris worldwide" in light of recent evidence
the tobacco giant has been responsible for 4.5 million deaths globally
every year.

Tobacco companies got exactly what they wanted. Cigarettes ads are
back in the mainstream press. People that already smoke tobacco see
the negative ads and think "I need a cigarette."

Even with the decline of cigarette sales nationally, Altria could care
less if they never sold one more cigarette in the United States. The
third-world countries aren't informed like we are here and in other
civilized parts of the world. Tobacco companies located in the good
ol' USA have the rest of the world hooked. Marlboros go farther as a
bartering item than currency in countries like Albania.

Thus begins the discussions on the negatives to globalization and the
national economies dependence on tobacco company's tax revenues. So
what does this have to do with the legalization of marijuana?

Tobacco is a drug that does nothing beneficial to humans but "relieve
stress" to a slight degree. It was at one point in time the leading
cause of death among Americans. Cigarettes turn teeth yellow, create
anxiety and leave a dastardly stink. Dipping and chewing tobacco may
keep the clothes and hair pretty, but send dentists into a tailspin.

I get a laugh listening to someone that uses tobacco give someone the
anti-marijuana speech. Have the pillows of tobacco smoke literally
clouded your judgment?

The benefits of marijuana outweigh that of tobacco by a landslide. Not
one person has overdosed, formed a cancer or developed emphysema from
smoking marijuana. I think it's also safe to say the stress relief
factors are in marijuana's favor. There are even medicinal benefits
tobacco companies only dream their products have.

If people weren't pumped full of a false addiction each time they
smoked, tobacco use wouldn't be a big deal. I would not recommend
marijuana for everyone and in that case, I couldn't recommend tobacco
to anyone.

Fight Altria, the media they control and public relations illusions
they've practically patented over the years by not accepting their
garbage. Isn't it obvious that marijuana has gone this long without
being legalized because we've had tobacco lobbyists' controlling the
Capitol decisions? The next time someone hands out a "legalize
cannabis" flier, give it a second thought.