--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One might ask why tobacco is legal and…" description: "\"One might ask why tobacco is legal and marijuana not. A possible answer is suggested by the nature of the crop.\" — Noam Chomsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/noam-chomsky-42_answers_one-might-ask-why-tobacco-is-legal-and-m_1551163.jpg" --- # One might ask why tobacco is legal and marijuana not. A… ![“One might ask why tobacco is legal and marijuana not. A possible answer is suggested by the nature of the crop.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/noam-chomsky-42_answers_one-might-ask-why-tobacco-is-legal-and-m_1551163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/noam-chomsky-42_answers_one-might-ask-why-tobacco-is-legal-and-m_1551163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/noam-chomsky-42_answers_one-might-ask-why-tobacco-is-legal-and-m_1551163.jpg) > “One might ask why tobacco is legal and marijuana not. A possible answer is suggested by the nature of the crop.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legal status of substances reflects social, economic, and political forces rather than inherent harm. **In simple terms:** Drug laws are shaped by power and profit. Key Takeaway Question policies, not just health impacts. Themes law policy social justice health economics Mood critical analytical Type political social commentary When to use this quote - public health debates - legislative reform - community education Key Concepts Power dynamics public perception regulation Questions to Reflect On - How do economic interests influence drug legality? - What alternatives exist to punitive drug policies? A Different Perspective Legalization may create new health risks if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crops/) [Marijuana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marijuana/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [One might ask why tobacco is legal and marijuana not. A possible answer is suggested by the nature of the crop. Marijuana can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/one-might-ask-why-tobacco-is-legal-and-marijuana-not-a-possible/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Science could never get you to make alcohol and tobacco legal and marijuana illegal. Only racism can do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maia-szalavitz/science-could-never-get-you-to-make-alcohol-and-tobacco-legal-and/) [Maia Szalavitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maia-szalavitz/) > [Suppose that, say, China established military bases in Colombia to carry out chemical warfare in Kentucky and North Carolina to destroy this lethal crop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/suppose-that-say-china-established-military-bases-in-colombia-to/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [One of the governor's complaints: federal rules that prohibit dispensary owners from putting their money in banks. "If you really want to introduce corruption…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/one-of-the-governor-s-complaints-federal-rules-that-prohibit/) [John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/) > [If you really want to introduce corruption into legal marijuana, make it an all cash business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/if-you-really-want-to-introduce-corruption-into-legal-marijuana-make/) [John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/) > [The measure discriminates definitely against products which make up what has been universally considered a program of safe farming. The bill upholds as ideals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/the-measure-discriminates-definitely-against-products-which-make-up/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [The family farm is the foundation for who we are as a Commonwealth. And for over a century, the family farm in Kentucky has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bunning/the-family-farm-is-the-foundation-for-who-we-are-as-a-commonwealth/) [Jim Bunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bunning/) > [It's not in doubt that tobacco is far more lethal than hard drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-not-in-doubt-that-tobacco-is-far-more-lethal-than-hard-drugs/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's one white powder which is by far the most lethal known, it's called sugar. . . . The Caribbean back in the 18th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-one-white-powder-which-is-by-far-the-most-lethal-known-it-s/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Suppose that the US really is trying to get rid of drugs in Colombia. Does Colombia then have the right to fumigate tobacco farms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/suppose-that-the-us-really-is-trying-to-get-rid-of-drugs-in-colombia/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [What right does the US have to do anything in Colombia? Does Colombia have the right to bomb North Carolina? There are more Colombians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/what-right-does-the-us-have-to-do-anything-in-colombia-does-colombia/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If the principle is, "Let's not get lethal substances out to the public", the first one you'd go after is tobacco. The next one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-the-principle-is-let-s-not-get-lethal-substances-out-to-the-public/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you want to talk about distributing substances that are lethal, . . . let's be serious. Tobacco is far ahead of anything else. Alcohol is second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-want-to-talk-about-distributing-substances-that-are-lethal-let/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The worst drug of all by far is tobacco; the death toll from tobacco is just overwhelming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-worst-drug-of-all-by-far-is-tobacco-the-death-toll-from-tobacco/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [In 1961, the United States began chemical warfare in Vietnam, South Vietnam, chemical warfare to destroy crops and livestock. 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Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. 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