I'm more and more convinced that Annie Lowrey is Atlantic's designated Peter Principle writer. The latest proof for that conjecture? Her urging Biden to adopt a policy crafted, but never implemented, by Trump: Nicotine-free cigs. First, as with decaf coffee, the degree they'd actually be nicotine-free would be questionable. Second, I would see a HUGE black market for regular cigs. Prohibition on steroids, and the size of cigs makes them easy to smuggle. You've presumably heard of a "cigarette boat," Ms. Lowery? It's why Marlboros were "currency" behind the Iron Curtain. Third, can you say vaping? Unless Lowery wants the gummint to force that to have only nicotine-free juices. If so, can you say "first" and "second" above?
Related? First, what's a "non-addictive" level of nicotine? Big Tobacco's gonna fight your definition.
More related? It's not just that nicotine itself is hyper-addictive, contra Lowrey. It's that Big Tobacco treats cigs with a variety of chemicals. Gonna have Biden make that stop?
Rather than shooting for a "nicotine-free" cigarette, or even more, an "addiction free" level of nicotine and arguing about what that is, I say put a max nicotine cap on it, and also abolish all the other chemicals.
The biggest deal is that this is a neoliberal "supply-side" solution.
It does not one whit to address why people smoke. And, it's for more reasons than just companies getting them hooked.
As for the biggest thing Biden could do to help public health? It would be to get us national health care.
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