should minors be allowed to smoke/possess tobacco?

[© tweed]

what difference does this difference in age make?
I know how it ends.  she'll kill me quick!

[© tweed]

can some of the 'no' people enlighten me as to how this could/should be enforced?

[© tweed]

can some of the 'no' people enlighten me as to how this could/should be enforced?

No.

Agreed.

However, nothing should be done to enforce it, in my opinion. Just wastes resources.

productive

[© tweed]

Of course not.  Dip is the one of the most disgusting things in the world.  In fact, in my top 10 list of the least desirable things a girl can do, dip topped out at #1.  Let's spare the gums of people not mature enough not to know not to do it.

I think thick mascara and chocolate yogurt are disgusting and unattractive too, but I'm not going to ban them

If mascara is found to cause cancer, then yes, let's ban it for under 18's.

soap, deodorant, hair spray, Johnson's Baby Shampoo, talcum powder, and hot dogs all contain carcinogens.  should their consumption by under 18s be banned?

[© tweed]

soap, deodorant, hair spray, Johnson's Baby Shampoo, talcum powder, and hot dogs all contain carcinogens.  should their consumption by under 18s be banned?

Even assuming that smoking was no worse in terms of cancer risks (obviously not true) there's still heart disease, emphysema, brain damage, premature skin aging, etc. associated with prolonged use. I'd rather not pay for the costs of that because some 12-18 year old kid decided to puff up outside of class.

it was Harry who set up a carcinogen litmus test, not I.

[© tweed]

The difference in carcinogens between soap and a newport pack is like the difference between a bb and a .45.

all he said was 'found to cause cancer'.  again, take it up with him, not I.

[© tweed]

No, it should remain illegal, but society should continue to turn a blind eye towards it

it's currently legal

[© tweed]

it turns out it is illegal for minors to smoke/possess in Maryland.  not sure how or if this is enforced.

[© tweed]

it turns out it is illegal for minors to smoke/possess in Maryland.  not sure how or if this is enforced.

it is actually illegal in what looks like a majority of states:

http://wecard.org/oltusers/wc_slsc_otl.html


the fact that none of us knew this seems to suggest that such laws are largely unenforced.  could somebody in a minor-in-possession state provide anecdotes?  NY has no laws at all for minors - it is even legal for a minor to *try* and purchase tobacco - so I'm in the dark.