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the FDA is considering a ban on menthol cigarette sales
(www.verifythis.com)
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this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2023
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Mildly Interesting
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My argument is that since illegal drugs have significantly fewer users, prohibition does reduce usage.
That logic doesn't flow, though. You need to compare number of current illegal users vs number of users before it was illegal.
Have you heard of the US prohibition on alcohol? It's a pretty famous counterexample to your argument showing that it absolutely does not reduce usage.
The same number of people, as a percentage, smoke marijuana as smoke cigarettes. Marijuana use is federally illegal and illegal in most states.
So no, it really doesn't reduce usage. Price and perceived risk are the two factors that reduce usage the most.
I don't know about the USA, but I see tobacco smokers every day and very rarely see marijuana smokers.
Most people smoking weed aren't just doing it out in the open like tobacco users
Well, then the prohibition has pretty much fulfilled its purpose.
When the government makes something illegal, they don't do it in hopes of millions of people doing it anyways in private.
Maybe not for other laws, but it makes sense for drugs. The important thing is that people should have the right to breathe non-poisonous air, and forcing smokers to hide their smoking achieves that.
This ban is on the sale of menthol infused cigarettes. It wouldn't criminalize smoking menthols and there's plenty of other ways to infuse cigarettes with menthol or buy a synthetic alternative.
If your point is at all that this prohibition would in any way, shape, or form help fulfill that goal, that is incorrect.
If you read the comment chain, we've been talking about drug prohibition in general, not this specific ban.
I've read the comment chain, it just seemed like you were implying that this ban would achieve some kind of beneficial outcome.
It's fine if I'm wrong, that's okay. I'll take that loss. That's not my point. I just think this ban has no positive effects whatsoever and I'm just hoping people realize that if true.