The Conspiracy Of The Tobacco Industry

The conspiracy of the tobacco industry refers to a set of strategies implemented by tobacco producers throughout history. It is suspected that they manipulated people to foment their addiction; specifically, they concealed relevant medical data on physical harm related to cigarette consumption, and implemented pressure mechanisms to curb legislation contrary to their interests.

There are many so-called conspiracy theories and they tell us about global threats, covert actions and other similar dynamics. Most of these are fake and designed solely to attract the attention of the most unwary and take advantage of them.

The conspiracy of the tobacco industry, on the other hand, is supported by real evidence. The World Health Organization (WHO) itself has published studies and evidence in this regard. Although the tobacco plot appears to have been exposed, new threats are lurking.

Tobacco, a gold mine

For American Indians, tobacco was (and in fact still is) a sacred plant. It was not used for daily use, but during specific rituals and moments. When Christopher Columbus arrived in America, he saw the natives smoking for the first time, although they mainly tended to chew the leaves.

It was the Spaniards who brought tobacco to Europe. Initially it was not smoked, but only snorted, that is, inhaled through the nose. Its use spread quickly, to the point that priests sniffed it during mass, prompting Pope Urban VIII to prohibit this practice.

From the 18th century onwards, the use of tobacco spread and was marketed all over the planet. A market of incredible profitability, then as now, given that the tobacco plant grows in any climate. Growing it is economical and productive.

A mass trade

Tobacco factories did everything they could to standardize the consumption of tobacco, especially among young people. During the First World War, cigarettes were part of the ration that was due to each soldier. In the 1920s, the idea of ​​smoking as a symbol of gender equality spread.

Soon the first cases of respiratory problems began to occur around the world. The scientific world tried to warn about the situation: cigarettes were the cause of many respiratory diseases, and nicotine was highly addictive.

The real problem was given by all the additional and harmful substances contained in the cigarette: ammonia, acetone, mercury and many other dangerous components.

It was then that a new phase of the tobacco conspiracy began. Manufacturers began to use bribery, forgery and lying techniques to hide or minimize the harm done by tobacco. All of this only came to light much later.

The conspiracy of the tobacco industry

One of the most powerful means used by tobacco factories to guarantee their survival in this new social context was to penetrate the structures of the state.

From one moment to the next, tobacco brands became sponsors of state programs everywhere. People serving their interests settled in governments and even in the World Health Organization.

At the same time, it is believed that they worked on creating increasingly addictive combinations and concentrations for consumers. They tricked them into believing that light or “low nicotine” cigarettes did less harm. All lies.

One of the pivotal moments in the tobacco conspiracy came when Ian Uydess, a former employee of Philip Morris (the largest tobacco company in the world), revealed the company’s practices to make cigarettes more addictive. The matter ended up in the courts and the case ended with a ruling in his favor.

A new threat in the conspiracy of the tobacco industry

Once the harmful effect of tobacco was proven, the laws of most countries adopted strict measures to curb its consumption, which affected the market. Little by little, initiatives aimed at changing the different ways of consuming tobacco spread around the world, using technology for this purpose.

The tobacco conspiracy enters a new era: the idea that smoking was the problem began to spread. Industries thus concentrated on the development of cigarettes (or similar) that did not produce smoke, leading to the birth of electronic cigarettes.

Philip Morris herself carried out the “A smoke-free world” campaign, exhibiting one of the first electronic cigarettes on the market. Experts deny that they are safer than traditional ones, in fact they can be just as dangerous due to the high nicotine content.

Nonetheless, smokers who have switched to the electronic cigarette are already many. Apparently, the tobacco industry conspiracy is far from over.