This Blog will be dedicated to all things tobacco including:

• Tobacco in history
• The tobacco business
• Tobacco agriculture and processing
• Tobacco use in all forms
• The politics of tobacco
• Plenty of other stuff I’m sure will occur to me as we go

This will not be a soap box or a place to strongly argue opinion on one side or the other of tobacco related issues.  While the content of this blog will be primarily focused on the responsible use of tobacco by informed adults, it will not be a forum for the bashing of those who choose to oppose tobacco and its uses.  You won’t hear terms like “antis” from me.  But you will see that I expect the same respect for opinion and  position by all for all.

Much of my own opinion and position relevant to tobacco is rooted in a deeper belief in freedom of choice in general.  I’m against draconian gun control, for the right of a woman to choose abortion, in support of the legalization of recreational drug use, against persecution or repression of anyone based on sexual preferences or practices that don’t harm others,  and in general against pretty much anything that deprives our human citizens of the right to exercise individual judgmental and decision making, and to practice a lifestyle of behaviors rooted in individual choice.

The words though that always accompany choice are responsibility and accountability.  If you use drugs you have an obligation to assure that your use is done in such a manner as to not harm others.  If you have unprotected sex and contract disease or become unintentionally pregnant that’s on you.  You made a choice.  You live with the result.

So in short I support the right of adults to use tobacco products without undue restrictions or government interference (this includes disproportionate taxation).  But I also stand strongly for respect and courtesy to non-users.  It should reciprocal.

In the future I will further some thoughts, facts and opinions around these concepts as they relate to all things tobacco.

Stay tuned.