Persuasive Essay Smoking

The people of America are addicted to the death sticks, but is it too late to reverse the situation? It is possible that the economy of the United States is reliant on the tobacco industry. While we can acknowledge that smoking is unhealthy, and even deadly, the involvement of the product may be a vital component of the country. This sparks a very heated debate that affects the health and finance of every citizen. If cigarettes were banned in the United States, the cessation and prevention of smoking would positively impact the health of humans, of animals, and of the environment. On the other hand, the economy could greatly suffer due to its reliance on the production and sales of the product; the practicality of the adherence to this prohibition

Nearly fifteen-billion cigarettes are smoked every day, each emitting between seven and twenty-three milligrams of particulate matter (Ott, Klepeis, Repace, and Wallace; “Smoking Statistics”). The researchers from Exposure Science, specializing in tobacco smoke report that “[particulate matter contains] particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, PM2.5, are major components of cigarette smoke and can enter deep into the lung where they can cause serious health problems” (Ott, Klepeis, Repace, and Wallace). This is important because these pollutants travel through the air that is supposed to support our earth; this is especially concerning due to the specific pollutants that a cigarette contains. For example, the American Lung Association address that “[when burned, cigarettes] create more than seven-thousand chemicals. At least sixty-nine of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, and many are

From 1920 through 1933, the National Prohibition of alcohol took place; what was intended to benefit the country instead failed with many consequences (Thornton). It has been acknowledged by historians that “prohibition failed because it gave rise to tremendous amounts of organized crime” (“Why Did Prohibition Fail”). The reference to organized crime is mostly to the consumption and sales of alcohol. This is an important point to consider because with this information, one can predict that the prohibition of cigarettes would also increase crime rates in the United States. Another problem to consider is the question of the likelihood that the population would be able to adhere to the law, since the addiction is so influential. The Cato Institute recognizes that “the lessons of Prohibition remain important today. They apply not only to the debate over the war on drugs but also to the mounting efforts to drastically reduce access to alcohol and tobacco” (Thornton). This point greatly builds off of the last point by professionally supporting the claim. Additionally, The Cato Institute noted that “prohibition removed a significant source of tax revenue and greatly increased government spending” (Thornton). Based on this information and due to its poor economic standpoint, it is not likely that the cause would have great public