Dear Listeners,

We are taking a month long break to come back with some more amazing content for you. Till then we will be recasting four of our favourite episodes from the past. Hope you enjoy it! :)

This week, we recast our conversation about the history of smoking.

History

The origin of tobacco can be traced back to 6000 BC, in the American continent. It was considered medicinal and used as a painkiller.

Smoking cannabis can be traced back to 2000 BC, India. It is also mentioned in Atharvaveda.

Cannabis smoking in the middle east was common, especially Hookah. Even women took part in it privately.

Christopher Columbus played a big part in getting it to the European continent

1531 - first tobacco cultivation in Europe.

By 1600, tobacco became an integral part of the society as a good section started smoking.

In 1560, Jean Nicot took tobacco with him to Spain from France

In 1571, a Spanish doctor named Nicolas Monardes, apparently “found out” tobacco could cure 36 health problems (what a joke!)

In 1588, Thomas Harriet, a Virginian, said that smoking gives the daily dose of tobacco. Not surprisingly, he died of nose cancer.

English King James I was one of the first to speak against smoking

Tobacco used as an exchange during these time. The barter system did rely on tobacco.

Africa was introduced to tobacco by Arab traders in the 13th century, It was popularised by French merchants in 1600 by bringing tobacco to Senegal & Gambia.

The 17th century saw Japanese use a device called Kiseru. It was a long-stemmed device.

In 1760, Pierre Lorillard set up the Lorillard Tobacco Company in NYC. it is the oldest tobacco company in the US.

Nicotine was discovered in 1826 and found to be harmful to humans.

1836, Samuel Green mentioned that tobacco is an insecticide, a poison which can kill.

Chinese got into the habit of smoking opium due to colonialism. The British got them addicted to opium and it resulted in the Opium Wars.

Chewing tobacco became popular amongst cowboys in the 19th century. It was more popular than smoking.

By 1901, smoking was catching up with 6 billion cigars and 3 billion cigarettes sold.

In 1902, Britisher, Philip Morris set up Marlboro brand

1913, R. J. Reynolds set up the Camel brand of cigarettes.

World Wars saw a tremendous increase in smoking. It was called soldier’s smoke and was included in the soldier’s ration.

By 1923, Camel took over 45% of the market in the US.

Which led to Marlboro marketing it as women’s cigarette in 1924. They called it Mild as May. The number of women smokers tripled over the next few years.

Nazi Germany has one of the most powerful anti-smoking movement.

During the 1950s evidence of smoking leading to lung cancer began popping up.

In 1952, Kent Brand developed Micronite, a cigarette which contains asbestos. It was shelved shortly afterwards.

In 1953, Dr Ernst L. Wynders found that cigarette tar causes a tumour in mice

In 1956, first menthol cigarette was released by RJ Reynolds called Salem.

In 1964, regulations in cigarette advertisements were placed after the finding on Smoking and Health report made it clear that smoking causes lung cancer.

In 1965, Britain takes cigarette commercials off television

In 1966, health warnings started popping up on packets

In 1968, Bravo, a non-tobacco cigarette brand made of lettuce. Mega Failure!

The US takes off cigarette advertisements in 1971

the first national Great American Smokeout takes place in 1977. It is an annual event which takes place on the third Thursday of every November.

In 1982, it is found out that second-hand smoking also leads to lung cancer

In 1985, lung cancer overtakes breast cancer as the number one cause of women’s death.

India and Smoking

The first act to add a statutory warning on packets came into existence in 1975

Public smoking banned in Kerala in 1999. The first state in India to do that.

On September 8, 2000, the complete ban on tobacco and smoking advertisements came into

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