Why are cigarettes legal, but marijuana illegal?

[LadyT]

It's all about money. Tobacco is a big cash crop in the South. And the big tobacco companies have way too much clout to ever allow cigaretttes to be made illegal. There's no way that Congress or any President will ever have the guts to do anything about it. In fact, many politicos get big campaign contributions from the tobacco industry. Cynical? Yes. The truth? Also yes.

So, you and I, through higher insurance premiums, will continue to pay to cover the medical costs that smoking creates.