A Bad Habit…
There was a time, not so long ago, when cigarettes were allowed in restaurants, airplanes, hotel rooms and even hospitals! I remember arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport (Paris, France) and, as soon as I got off the plane, being overwhelmed by the smell of Gauloise cigarettes… Times have changed!
History
Tobacco (or Nicotiana tabacum) and related products have a long history that stretches back to 6,000 BC. The Aztecs smoked a hollow reed or cane tube stuffed with tobacco. Other natives of Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America crushed tobacco leaves and rolled the shreds in corn (maize) husk or other vegetable wrappers.