10/9/2017

Next month the Great American Smokeout takes place (November 16, 2017). This is an annual event, hosted by the American Cancer Society and has been going on since 1977. The event encourages people to stop smoking cigarettes for 24 hours, hoping their decision not to smoke will last forever.

But while this anti-smoking initiative gains popularity, smoking is far from ending. Indeed, it seems that cigars have become increasingly popular as well as e-cigarettes.

Of course the evidence regarding the health effects of tobacco products is well established so the reasons for not smoking do not need to be reiterated here. So rather than delve into the direct relationship between tobacco and health, there is the question of “how did we get to this point, when such a harmful product got to be so popular?”

Tobacco was first discovered by the native people of Mesoamerica (area comprising Mexico and Central America) and South America where it was cultivated as far back as 6000 B.C. During this time, tobacco was used in many different ways, such as in religious and medicinal practices.  It is in the same family as the potato, pepper and the poisonous nightshade. The seed of a tobacco plant is very small. In fact a 1-ounce sample contains about 300,000 seeds!

While tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) is a stimulant, in sufficient quantities (such as those used traditionally by American Indians) it can have hallucinogenic properties.  Tobacco contains harmala alkaloids which are known hallucinogens (They have a history of use as medications prescribed for the treatment of depression). The levels of these materials in cigarette smoke are between forty and 100 times greater than in tobacco leaf, showing that the burning of the plant generates this dramatic increase. In addition, hallucinogenic effects of tobacco were more evident as the strains of tobacco smoked by the American Indians were far more potent than our commercially produced varieties. Furthermore, the amounts consumed by them were often considerably greater than even the most ardent chain-smoker of today.

And then in 1492, Columbus Discovers Tobacco.  As Columbus wrote in his journal, “…the natives brought fruit, wooden spears, and certain dried leaves which gave off a distinct fragrance.”  The fruit was eaten; the pungent “dried leaves” were thrown away.

However, two scouts of Columbus, Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de Torres, while in Cuba searching for the Khan of Cathay (China), are credited with first observing smoking. The Spanish Historian, Bartolomé de las Casasa, described this event”

“…men with half-burned wood in their hands and certain herbs to take their smokes, which are some dry herbs put in a certain leaf, also dry, like those the boys make on the day of the Passover of the Holy Ghost; and having lighted one part of it, by the other they suck, absorb, or receive that smoke inside with the breath, by which they become benumbed and almost drunk, and so it is said they do not feel fatigue. These, muskets as we will call them, they call tabacos. I knew Spaniards on this island of Española who were accustomed to take it, and being reprimanded for it, by telling them it was a vice, they replied they were unable to cease using it. I do not know what relish or benefit they found in it…”

After leaving Cuba, one of the scouts, de Jerez, brought tobacco to his hometown, but the smoke billowing from his mouth and nose frightened his neighbors and was subsequently imprisoned by the holy inquisitors for 7 years. By the time he was released, smoking was a Spanish craze!

And in 1571, a Spanish doctor named Nicolas Monardes wrote a book about the history of medicinal plants of the new world and claimed that tobacco could cure 36 health problems.

During the 1600’s, tobacco was so popular that it was frequently used as money. This was also a time when some of the addictive effects of smoking tobacco were being realized. In 1610 Sir Francis Bacon (Lord Chancellor of England) noted that trying to quit tobacco was truly difficult.

By 1760, Pierre Lorillard established a company in New York City to process tobacco, cigars, and snuff, and is today the oldest tobacco company in the U.S. In 1826, the pure form of nicotine was discovered and soon after, scientists concluded that nicotine was a dangerous poison. Ten years later, it was realized that tobacco could be used as an insecticide, as well as a poison. 

In 1847, the company, Phillip Morris was established, selling hand rolled Turkish cigarettes. Cigarettes in the U.S. were mainly made from scraps left over after the production of other tobacco products, especially chewing tobacco. Chewing tobacco became quite popular at this time with the “cowboys” of the American west.  In 1901 3.5 billion cigarettes were sold, while 6 billion cigars were sold. In 1902, Phillip Morris sets up a New York headquarters to market its cigarettes, including a now famous Marlboro brand. A few years later, cigarettes become the major tobacco product made and sold.

While cigarettes grew in popularity, the first anti-tobacco campaigns were established, with some states proposing a total ban on tobacco.  Nevertheless, the demand for cigarettes grew, and in 1913 R.J. Reynolds began to market a cigarette brand called Camel. Throughout the first part of the 20^th Century, cigarette use increased as did the number of tobacco companies. This popularity was fueled by the two world wars where cigarettes were part of the solders’ rations and when they returned to civilian life, there was a steady stream of loyal customers.

In 1964, the Surgeon General’s report on “Smoking and Health” came out. This report assisted in allowing the government to regulate the advertisement and sales of cigarettes. In 1965, television cigarette ads are taken off the air in Great Britain and in 1966, health warnings began appearing on cigarette packs.

Because of the negative press about tobacco, major tobacco companies begin to diversify their products. Phillip Morris begins to buy into the Miller Brewing Company. At the same time, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company drops the “Tobacco Company” in its name, and becomes RJ Reynolds Industries. It also begins to buy into other products, such as aluminum.

In 1971, television ads for cigarettes are taken off the air in the U.S. Cigarettes, however, are still the most heavily advertised product second to automobiles.

And in in 1977, the first national Great American Smokeout takes place. Two years later, the Surgeon General reports on the Health Consequences of Smoking for Women. This is in light to the increasing number of women who smoke. Some attribute this increase to the slick ad campaign of the Virginia Slims brand.  “You’ve Come a Long Way Baby!”

During the 1980’s there were many lawsuits filed against the tobacco industry because of the harmful effects of its products. Smoking becomes politically incorrect, with more public places forbidding smoking. In 1982, the Surgeon General reports that second hand smoke may cause lung cancer (hmmm, remember the fact about tobacco smoke being more potent than the actual leaf?). Smoking in public areas are soon restricted, especially at the workplace.

In 1985, lung cancer became the #1 killer of women, overtaking breast cancer.  

Phillip Morris continues to diversify into other products, buying into General Foods Corporation and Kraft Inc in 1985. RJ Reynolds, also diversifies, buying Nabisco (of Oreo fame) and becoming RJR/Nabisco. In 1987, Congress bands smoking on all domestic flights lasting less than 2 hours. In 1990, smoking is banned on all domestic flights, except to Alaska and Hawaii. In the same year, Ben & Jerry’s (of ice cream fame) boycotts RJR/Nabisco, and drops Oreos from its ice cream products.

During the 80’s and 90’s, the tobacco industry starts marketing heavily in areas outside the U.S., especially developing countries in Asia. Marlboro is considered the world’s No. 1 most valuable brand of any product with a value over $30 billion. Over this period, there is a battle between Coca Cola and Marlboro as the No. 1 brand in the world.

This is a brief timeline of tobacco and how America (as well as other countries) has been influenced by this product. It is interesting that the health effects and additive nature of tobacco were actually known a long time ago. Yet, even today, many refuse to acknowledge tobacco’s serious health consequences. 

If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire