News, Hawaii Bill Would Raise Legal Smoking Age by ... Well, a Lot (homes, to live)

[PamelaIamela]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

On what grounds?

There is clear precedent States can regulate tobacco and alcohol - for instance, it wasn't until 1966 Mississippi ended prohibition.

Currently, you have to be 21 to smoke - why not 25? 30? etc.....

There is no Federal right to smoke.

Regardless, it won't pass.

Honestly laughable 'reasoning'!
There is no Federal right to eat ice cream either.
Maybe states should ban that as well.

Wait..I got it.. ban ice cream sales to overweight people only!

More seriously though, the first ten amendments to the Constitution primarily addresses those rights we possess as individuals that may not be abridged, infringed upon or denied by the state.

And the ninth amendment makes that crystal clear, to wit:

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

So there.

[Hiruko]

I am not sure I qualify as a smoker, because I have smoked fewer than two packs in my life. I have also never taken or used any illicit drugs either. Even so, I think criminalizing cigarette smoking is a terrible idea. People are already shamed for smoking in almost every way (banned from smoking in both public and private spaces, they are behind the checkout counter, charged higher rates on insurance products, and generally pissed upon by the general public despite 1-in-4 white and black Americans smoking). Further, isn't it ridiculous that almost half of U.S. states have either decriminalized or legalized marijuana (despite it being totally illegal under federal law), but people want to criminalize cigarettes!

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by PamelaIamela

And the ninth amendment makes that crystal clear, to wit:

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

So there.

The founding fathers obviously meant the 9th Amendment to mean smoking is a right

[PamelaIamela]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

The founding fathers obviously meant the 9th Amendment to mean smoking is a right

Yes, among many other things.
And I'm sure they would agree!

[Mikala43]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

The founding fathers obviously meant the 9th Amendment to mean smoking is a right

When you consider how very much tobacco they grew, yes, they were probably very pro-smoking. Smoking was considered harmless AND healthy back then.

But that is not the point, we are granted freedom by the constitution, with the government having to give good reasons to take those freedoms away.

Just being unhealthy is not really valid, or we would not have soda and other junk food, or even fast food.

And really, that is a slippery slope to go down.

(I am not a smoker)

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Mikala43

Just being unhealthy is not really valid, or we would not have soda and other junk food, or even fast food.

I hope you don't think smoking is just "unhealthy".

SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, and May Complicate Pregnancy. SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health. ... SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide.

You can't even buy antibiotics without a prescription. Gosh, women can't even get birth control pills without a prescription - what's up with that, unhealthy?

[Mikala43]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

I hope you don't think smoking is just "unhealthy".

SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, and May Complicate Pregnancy. SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health. ... SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide.

You can't even buy antibiotics without a prescription. Gosh, women can't even get birth control pills without a prescription - what's up with that, unhealthy?

God yes, both can be quite unhealthy. Antibiotics put me in the hospital and in surgery. Plus, they are disease specific, you can't just pop amoxicillin if you have an MRSA, you need medical knowledge and testing facilities to determine what you need.

The rest of your post is splitting hairs and arguing semantics.

[McFrostyJ]

Our government, be it federal, state, county, city or.... chooses to make certain products legal or illegal all the time. It could be done. If the smoking age was raised or smoking even made illegal in Hawaii, I highly doubt the courts could justify overturning the law. The only recourse smokers would have is to either vote the lawmakers out of office or work to get a measure on the ballot to strike down the law.

That said, I don't think you have to worry about cigarettes being made completely illegal anytime soon. There's too much money in having it remain legal. The question is, what is the real cost cigarettes and who should pay that cost?

[Sepulgeek]

My body my choice!

[Open-D]

Originally Posted by Sepulgeek

My body my choice!

Well, it isn't exactly just "your body" because you, as a smoker, i.e. drug addict, spew your disgusting, toxic, unhealthy filth into the air normal people are breathing.

Why don't you just grind tobacco up to a fine powder and snort it, i.e. "snuff". That way, you can stoke your addiction without taking the risk that somebody who takes offense at you polluting the air she is breathing.....