Tobacco

The drug

The tobacco plant grows in many parts of the world and will even grow in England. Most tobacco used in this country comes from the United States of America, and is sold in the form of cigarettes. Cigars are made from stronger, darker tobacco rolled up in tobacco leaves, and this strong tobacco can also be smoked in a pipe. snuff is powdered tobacco sniffed up the nose.

Another tobacco was brought to England in the second half of the 16th century, there was a fierce dispute about what it was made up of and it's benefits. But by 1625 tobacco's revenue advantages had led even King James - till then a fanatical opponent- to accept it's widespread non-medical use and to regulate the trade in the interests of Britain's American colonies.

Since then tobacco's economic (money) importance has led to......

The drug effect of tobacco is caused by nicotine, a mild stimulant found only in tobacco leaves, which vaporises into the smoke when tobacco is burnt.

The law

Selling any tobacco products to children under sixteen is prohibited (not allowed). Apart from this there is no restrictions on sale, other than that the import duty and other taxes should have been paid. Even children who cannot legally be sold tobacco, can nevertheless legally buy, posses and smoke it.

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