Surgeon General Gives Non-Smokers New Ammunition to be Whiny With

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As a recent addition to the world of non-smoking I have to admit that one of the things that kept me from quitting for so many years was that I simply didn’t want to be a “non-smoker”. Let’s face it, smoking is cool. It helps you meet people, James Dean did it, its great after dinner or sex. Not to mention, non-smokers, in general, seem to be giant wet blankets…and really who wants that label?

After many years of beating around the bush the surgeon general has finally released a report showing “indisputable” evidence of the “alarming” effects of secondhand smoke. It’s amazing to me that the two vices this country doesn’t mind fervently pushing off on people, alcohol and tobacco, are the two deadliest vices you can have. Meanwhile people are still locked away in prison for buying or selling pot. Are we living in the fucking stone age?

Every year in the United States, alcohol-related deaths total 100,000 and tobacco-related fatalities total 450,000. And, according to the Feds, all illicit drugs are linked to under 10,000 deaths per year. But, according to the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, “innocent” pot is increasingly laced with other drugs, like angel dust and heroin, sometimes unbeknownst to users. Obviously, mixing drugs can present big problems — even to first-time users.

The war on drugs might be failing miserably but it seems like the war on common sense is winning without a fight.

Marijuana and health [Go Ask Alice]
A Warning on Hazards of Secondhand Smoke [NYT]