Why do smart people smoke? Tobacco, a brief history

This month I’m in Japan and I’ve taken up smoking the pipe. Partly, I enjoy the taste and the ritual. I’ve never gotten into smoking cigarettes and don’t plan to start. And while I understand smoking can be addictive, I’ve not experienced it yet. If you’ve followed Creativindie for awhile, you’ll know I’m a fan for marijuana for creativity and productivity boosting. But I also travel full-time, and while recreational marijuana is legal in my home state of Oregon, it can mean a jail sentence in many other countries. The advantage of tobacco is that it’s a global habit; easy to buy and use anywhere. But does it do any good? The benefits would have to outweigh the potential health risks. I’m definitely not recommending tobacco use, but I do want to post an open-minded review and case study. Let’s start with a historical overview Tobacco was used extensively in the Americas, going back thousands of years; it had spiritual connotations, and was used in vision quests and ceremonies. Later, it also became used for quiet reflection and relaxation. Once it was discovered by Europeans, it became the most commercial product of all time. At first it was lauded as a healthy practice; and even when the health risks became obvious, use continued despite the warnings. What is it about tobacco that has made it so popular? The opening speech of Moliere’s Don Juan explains: “There is nothing like tobacco. It’s the passion of the virtuous man and whoever lives without tobacco isn’t worthy of living. Not only does it purge the human brain, but it also instructs the soul in virtue and one learns from it how to be a virtuous man. Haven’t you noticed how well one treats another after taking it. . . tobacco inspires feelings, […]

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