But with a continuing demand for cigarettes, history teaches us that cigarettes can easily be smuggled into the United States from countries not choosing to outlaw them. We would be forced to prosecute people for tobacco offenses - or run the risk of having the government once again look foolish. Jails and prisons would need to make room for these new offenders. Prosecutions, appeals, lawyers, incarcerations, and regulations would cost tons of money. The proposed tobacco agreement will also cost the taxpayers additional billions, in other ways.
Tobacco is one of our largest, agricultural cash crops.
In some Southern states, like Kentucky and the Carolinas, it is critical to the economy. Should we succeed in harassing the tobacco companies enough, they may decide to close their American operations and take tobacco products to the Third World. Americans would be thrown out of work. If we also ban advertising tobacco products, ad agencies and advertising media will lose revenue. These companies will also lay off workers.