This Never Ceases To Amaze Me!!

[PoconoPragmatist]

As a smoker of cigarettes, I am demonized by most here on DU. Yet, if I said I was a pot smoker, I'd not only not be demonized...but several would likely also admit to smoking pot, and would tell me I was great and wonderful because I smoked pot. I do not understand why so many who so demonize us smokers, are the very ones who want to decriminalize marijuana...not just for medicinal use...but for strictly pleasure use!

Will someone please explain to me why marijuana is okay, and cigarettes are the spawn of the devil?

I just do not get it.

[cynatnite]

1. As a smoker...hopefully soon to be an ex...

Because pot doesn't have the same pollutants that cigarette makers put in theirs. Pot is actually safer.

[janx]

3. pot is actually safer...

unless you're driving.

It is safer for your health, and you're right about the stuff cig producers put into their products, but I just couldn't help myself. ;-)

DON'T DRIVE STONED.

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. *Most* cigarette makers

This is what I smoke. No chemical additives, it's not "Big Tobacco," and if you roll your own it costs about half as much.

[fizzgig]

7. i gotta start rolling my own

do you use a roller or do you do it by hand? my ex was super suave and could roll one up for me in no time, but i failed miserably every time i tried.

and i love american spirit cigarettes, they're just too pricey for me

[Oeditpus Rex]

10. I use an injector

This one. Cost about $15.



There're pricier ones — Premier and Top both have injectors that cost about $40, but they have a crank mechanism rather than the push-pull, which I assume works a little better.

A tin of American Spirit costs about $14, and that's in Kollyforniya where taxes are hugh. A box of 200 tubes is about $3, so it's roughly $17 for about a carton's worth.

[fizzgig]

11. i know 'injector' sounds self explanatory

but i'm not quite grasping the concept...can you give me just a quick synopsis of how it works?

yes, i'm a bit slow on the uptake :silly:

[Oeditpus Rex]

14. It's okay; it was all new to me not long ago

Look at the photo above; the black bit hinges up, and you stick a tube over a little thing on the front (left in the photo). When you open the black bit, there's a little trough where the tobacco goes. You put some in, then close it, compressing the tobacco, then slide the black bit toward you and back. That presses ("injects") the tobacco into the tube.

It takes me about 20 seconds to make one.

[fizzgig]

15. do you put rolling papers in the tube

or are those cigarette-looking things pre-made, but empty, cigarettes?

and thank you for explaining this to me

[Oeditpus Rex]

17. Empty cigarettes, yup

They're called "tubes." You can get 'em with or without filters, and they make regular and menthol filters.

:hi:

[fizzgig]

18. many thanks

:hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

21. Just passin' it on

Heidi was my tutor. :hi:

[cynatnite]

16. Okay, this is interesting and I have a few questions...

or maybe you can point me in the right direction.

How are those self-made smokes compared to store-bought manufactured ones? I'm on ultra-lights. Can I get filtered like that and still use the same process? Are they considered safer than the others? And if I'm reading it right...the thing that compresses the tobacco costs about $14 and to make enough that equals a carton runs about $17? Sounds like all of this is cheaper and safer in the long run.

I'm seriously thinking about doing this.

[Oeditpus Rex]

19. It's a lot cheaper

About half the cost of Big Tobacco smokes here, or maybe even a little less. You're doing well in Kollyforniya these days to find a carton of anything for less than $35, and that's at the discount stores.

American Spirit doesn't make a "light" tobacco. Other companies do, but those still have some or all of the 480-something chemicals added by Big Tobacco, which is where most of the carcinogens are. All AS tobacco is labeled "No additives in our tobacco does NOT mean safer," but I think that's just CYA. Hell, my doctor was the one who told me about 'em, and she was happy when I switched.

Mind you, they aren't "safe," either; you're still sucking tobacco smoke, and that's got some bad stuff in it.

AS has several different blends, so you could probably find one you like. Google "roll your own tobacco." There's all kinds of sites where you can check it out.

[cynatnite]

20. Thank you...I will do that :) n/t

[PoconoPragmatist]

25. Not Only That

But Premier makes a LIGHT cigarette tube.

I guess it must have a tighter filter or something. But one CAN get LIGHT tubes.

[PoconoPragmatist]

24. They Make Rolling Machines, and Rolling Tubes

It's a snap to learn how to do it.

Just get you a machine...sits on tabletop, costs about 14 bucks. Lasts about forever.

Get your tobacco, about 10-15 bucks a pound, depending on your locality. Get your tubes, which come with filters in them already...for 1-2 bucks, again depending on your locality. If you get 1 pound of tobacco and 2 cartons of tubes, in most places you'll still walk with change from a twenty...and enough supplies to roll 2 cartons worth of cigarettes.

And if you buy american Spirit...it is 100% all natural tobacco, no additives of any kind. Certified.

At first, it may take you about an hour to roll 1 pack's worth of cigarettes. Once you get the hang of it, you can do it in about ten minutes.

When you consider 20 bucks for 2 cartons of smokes...against 40 bucks a carton...actually, you save about 75% when you roll your own. I started rolling my own this year, finally getting disgusted with the high prices. I even used to have a friend out of state, who routinely bought cigarettes and mailed them to me...far cheaper than I could get them here in Pennsylvania. Even THAT started being too much money...25 bucks a carton as opposed to 20 bucks for TWO cartons...well, I decided that I'd just start rolling my own.

[flying rabbit]

8. Alas

I smoke it too, but they were bought out by RJ Reynolds- can't let the little guy get a foothold.

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. According to their web site

they're an independent operating unit of RJR.

http://www.nascigs.com/

Not sure what that means for practical purposes. :shrug:

[PoconoPragmatist]

22. Bingo!!

As do I. I roll my own. And use the same brand you do. I just use Menthol cigarette tubes, so as to get the menthol flavor.

[Oeditpus Rex]

28. I use menthol tubes, too

Gizeh. My tobacconist keeps 'em in stock just for me. :D

They're smoother than Premier menthol tubes.

I'd forgotten about the "light" tubes you mentioned. The filters are micro-perfed so some of the smoke seeps out — same as with Big Tobacco's "light" cigs. You don't get all the junk, but you also don't get the same pull.

[PoconoPragmatist]

29. What Brand?

What brand menthol tubes are you using? The Premiers are a bit harsh.

[Oeditpus Rex]

32. Gizeh

They're German.

[WildEyedLiberal]

31. As long as your tobacconist isn't scratched, you're in business

:D

[Oeditpus Rex]

33. Eef my tobacconist was scratched

I would not buy eet.

:D

[Joe Fields]

2. Well, as a smoker of both, (and I have been here a long time) I have

never felt that I have been demonized about my cigarette smoking here at this site. I understand people's dislike of cigarettes. I have burned holes in my clothing, holes in my carpet at home,(before I quit smoking inside) and holes in the upholstery of my car. The inside of my car smells like an ashtray and my mouth probably does, too. It is the most insidious of habits, harder to kick than heroin, and I will probably continue to smoke until the day I die, which, for some here at du, can't be too soon.

But, no one here has ever ragged me about it, to all of their credit.

[janx]

6. Hey Joe,

I burned holes in a boring manuscript when I was an copy editor in the 80s. I called for the assistance of a graphic artist, because she had a soda available. We poured it on the manuscript.

I couldn't help it. It was a religious manuscript, and I fell asleep reading it. It didn't actually catch on fire, but there were smoldering holes...

[Joe Fields]

30. Now THAT'S funny!!!

:rofl:

[DS1]

5. How many roaches do you see littering the sides of roads?

besides, if you walk through a cloud of pot smoke, at least it won't stick to you and stink you up for the next few hours

[fizzgig]

9. i'm disgusted by the butts on the road

and i'm a smoker. if i'm at a light and see someone toss theirs out the window, i get an almost overwhelming urge to get out of my car and throw it back at them

[PoconoPragmatist]

26. LOL

I tend to knock the hots off out into the road, and then place the now-extinguished cigarette into my ashtray.

I think a lot of folks flick theirs because they can't always put them all the way out, and don't want them smouldering.

My solution is to knock the hots out the window - they biodegrade in no time...and the butt goes in the ashtray. That or carry a bottle of water just for that very purpose.

I agree cigarette butts on the road are not cool. This is another example of subjecting others to the consequences of my adult choice to use a legal product. I try not to affect others negatively while exercising my own rights.

I wish more non-smokers were as courteous of MY RIGHTS!!

[skygazer]

40. Just a friendly word of advice

Don't use that method in California or any other extremely dry area. Just the head of burning cigarette can cause a brush fire out here that will burn 2 million acres. Seriously.

As for your question, I think part of it has to do with the fact that cigarette smokers are everywhere but pot, being illegal, is only smoked in certain areas. So your average person is more likely to be around cig smokers. They might complain more if they were surrounded by people smoking pot.

I'm a former cigarette smoker and I do understand the frustration of having a habit that's perfectly legal but becoming more and more socially unacceptable. But it is a habit that affects the people around you and a lot of smokers are inconsiderate. Just as in so many things, the assholes make it harder for those who try to be decent.

But in the end, I don't think it's a valid comparison just because people aren't exposed to pot smokers like they are cigarette smokers. So it makes the legalization of pot more of an intellectual exercise for them rather than really considering what that reality might mean. :hi:

[Richard Steele]

13. I'm a two-pack-a-day nicotine addict, and I've never felt "demonized" here on DU.

:shrug:

[LadyAziz]

23. Because there are more visible cigarette smokers than

mary janes and cuz marijuana is cooler :P

I do not smoke but really do hate the smell of cigarettes. Also cuz saying Marijuana is much sexier than Cigarettes :D.

[PoconoPragmatist]

27. MJ Is Disgusting

Smells like a frikin' burnt rope. How anyone can want to smoke it is beyond me.

I got passed a joint a few times in my life, and, in the spirit of comraderie, I took the occasional hit. Usually, I just passed it on o the next person, but, every once in a while, I would take a hit. I never got any effect from it. I never got munchies, like they said you were supposed to...and I never felt any different, although they said it was supposed to make you feel good and mellowed out, this never happened to me.

Course I did my share of self-medication in my younger years, and am now clean for 12 years, thank you. Nevertheless...I never DID enjoy the taste of marijuana. I DO enjoy the taste of a menthol cigarette.

[BulletproofLandshark]

34. Cigarettes kill. Marijuana doesn't.

But I would never demonize someone for lighting up unless they were around kids or people w/respiratory problems.

[PoconoPragmatist]

35. Well, I Would NEVER

I'm not pig-headed...like some smokers are...and a lot of non-smokers are towards smokers.

And marijuana damn well does too kill. People shoot each other for marijuana. Driving while under the influence of marijuana has, I'm sure, led to many deaths.

when's the last time driving under the influence of nicotine caused an accident? when's the last time someone shot someone else over a tobacco deal gone bad?

[BulletproofLandshark]

37. People only kill each other over marijuana because it's illegal.

The same would happen if tobacco were illegal, just as it did w/ alcohol during prohibition. And please show me some proven statistics on marijuana-related traffic deaths if you could. Marijuana itself never killed anyone. Ever.

[cobalt1999]

36. If pot were legal,

and non-smokers had to walk into pot smoke filled bars, eat next to pot smokers in restaurants, work next to pot smokers, and share a car with a pot smoker, then pot smokers would be demonized too.

As it is illegal, it is done behind closed doors and out of the way of non smokers, thus no reason for complaints. There is your difference. One is in-your-face public, the other is behind closed doors out of the way.

Simple.

[PoconoPragmatist]

38. Wrong

A lot of non-cigarette-smokers like you constantly champion the cause of legalizing marijuana.

[Connonym]

39. I see your point

I smoke an occasional social cigarette as well as an occasional social joint. New beau is a heavy smoker -- 3 packs a day sometimes -- and he's very polite about it but I have to say that anything that comes from his house has a pervasive smell of stale smoke. I have never noticed that with my friends who regularly smoke weed -- probably because of sheer quantity. The quantity and publicness of the behavior is really the only difference I can see.