Speak for yourself.

color displays
 

;) Maybe in Japan of some parallel Universe.....

When a term like "facist crackdown in America" is used to describe the promotion of a smoke-free lifestyle, I call that dumping on America. It happens here way too often, and I call on it whenever I see it.

Unlike the other activities you describe, there is nothing healthy about cigarettes. There is no safe use in moderation. That's all I will say about that.

Even if marijuana is legalized in the US, I would be shocked if it were legalized in Japan in 10 years. There is no organized or respected pro-marijuana movement like there is in the US. The attitudes about marijuana place it in the same catagory as meth or black tar heroin. It's not going to happen here.

You are reaching.
None the less thanks for your public service announcement.

Who said they are healthy for goodness sake.
But we all do things that are not healthy. Living in a smog filled city isn't healthy either, but some people don't like the country.

Guess it depends on the groups you hang out with and where you live.
The idea that Japanese might have about Marijuana you paint here is probably right in most areas. That is just from lack of knowledge on the plant. The same ideas Jpaanese have that caffine, tobacco and alcohol, taking in moderation is also very acceptable on the same hand.

I think if the US legalizes it in some fashion I think Japan would soon follow. I get back to you about it in 10 years.

indeed.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Well i saw some news article a few months ago saying that most countries citizens live longer then American people, and japan was one of those countries with longer living citizens. Just saying, not trying to get involved in this.

And the Japanese smoke like stacks in comparison to America. The air pollution in many urban cities in Japan is not very nice at all. I think those reports mainly are focused on Okinawa, but I think surely life style and diet has some affect in Japan in general.

It will be interested to see if the Kyoto Protocol has any real affect in 10 years in regards to air pollution in Japan.

There will be no movement in Japan to legalize marijuana. Japan is not America, where marijuana is cheap and easy to find, and where punishment for using it is slight. The number of people in Japan who use marijuana is negligibly small.

Japan is an island, and importing illegal drugs here is difficult. An arrest for marijuana in Japan is a life-ruining event, which will land you in jail for a long time, and may prevent you from ever getting any kind of decent job. The families of those who are arrested for drug use are often so ashamed that they move to a new area.

Japan has a national health care system, and with the large numbers of people becoming elderly, health related issues due to cigarette smoking may become to costly to bear. Smoking is now banned in many public places, and there are officers who patrol the alleyways in Shinjuku and other areas and cite people for smoking outside designated areas. Newer restaurants now often prohibit smoking, and the government is looking for new ways to prevent people from picking up the habit.

I don't see Japan being noticeably different in 10 years.

I am saying cigarettes have ZERO benefits. You can't say that about the other things. That's why I say smoking is different from "Internet" or "living in city". There are other benefits to those things, despite possible health issues. Cigarettes don't have other benefits.

America legalizing mariijuana will have as much affect on Japanese feelings about dope as America legalizing handguns does. Sure there will be a handful of people that will develop and interest, but that is very different from the national government reversing what is probably one of the most popular laws in Japan.

Alcohol has zero benefits too then I guess.