With the price of cigarettes climbing over a $6 a pack most American smokers have opted to grow their own tobacco. However whether homegrown tobacco is cheaper is debatable since it is a tough crop to grow, even for seasoned gardeners.
Many internet sites have perpetrated that growing your own tobacco is healthier since they do not include any of the additives that are in commercial cigarettes. However this is not true. Many cigarette companies are trying to portray the image that some types of cigarettes are less harmful. Yet, the reality is that all types of cigarettes are harmful and can lead to death. They cause a myriad of disease especially related to the respiratory system and cancer. Commercial cigarettes include a lot of harmful substances that are added to make the smoking experience a pleasant and addictive one. Most of these additives are carcinogenic and tobacco, particularly natural ones, when burned, have upwards of 40 known carcinogens which cause more harm than any additive. These carcinogens cause high blood pressure, higher cholesterol levels, higher risk of heart disease and artery clotting and even stroke.
Growing your own tobacco can also result in other problems like green tobacco sickness that is caused by handling wet tobacco leaves. It is a type of tobacco poisoning and is a disease frequently affecting tobacco growers. Therefore it is apparent that even homegrown tobacco can be deadly, maybe even more than commercial cigarettes.
