Effective on September 1 2012 Idaho State University has put a ban on smoking tobacco products on campus. This is nothing more than a lack of tolerance on the part of the non smoking community of ISU. Smoking tobacco has been criminalized by many but continues to be a LEGAL substance in the US. We need to put our foot down on this issue, banning smoking is nothing more than boldly offensive to anyone who partakes in tobacco products. The "reason" that this is being passed is supposedly because of air quality and the effect that cigarette smoke has on those who don't smoke. My question then is why don't we stop driving on campus? Car exhaust emits many types of pollutants including hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Statistically, you are much more likely to die in a bicycle accident, than from exposure to smoke. Its admittedly not easy to find evidence that smoking has minimal effect on the environment when you type it into Google. However looking at the actual evidence from an objective standpoint we can see that the dangers of smoking have been significantly exaggerated for propagandistic reasons. The nonsmoking campaign is one that raises billions of dollars each year from trying to ban smoking. All with no real evidence that smoking will effect those that come into contact with it second hand. Yes smoking cigarettes is bad for you and may give you cancer, but so is talking on your cell phone, diet sodas, and standing in front of your microwave. 

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