I used to be a smoker. I loved it.
I loved the “after dinner” cigarette. The “break from work” cigarette. The “after class” cigarette. The “in the car” cigarette. The “I’m stressed out” cigarette. The “celebration” cigarette. The “after sex” cigarette. The “I’m bored and have nothing else to do” cigarette. The “light a cigarette with the cigarette you just finished smoking” cigarette.
But in the last year or so of my smoking career there was only one cigarette I loved: the first one of the day.
Before I’d fall asleep each night I’d put the pack of cigarettes with the lighter on top exactly one arm’s length away from my bed on the floor. I’d put the ashtray right next to it.
This way when I woke up I could reach out with my left hand and grab the pack of cigarettes, pull one out, stick it in my mouth, light it, grab the ashtray and put it on my chest. I was smoking before I even opened my eyes.
Some people may call that sick. But for me, that was just how I started my day.
I hated all the other cigarettes I smoked during the rest of the day. I knew I wasn’t smoking for the enjoyment. I had to.
I tried quitting a few times. I chewed some of that gum. Tried the patch. My mom even convinced me to try acupuncture.
When I was finally able to quit a few years ago it was the toughest thing I had ever done.
At first I liked the smell of cigarette smoke. I’d walk by smokers and take deep breaths. But eventually that changed. I realized how bad they smelled and the smoke made me nauseous.
Wait. I know you’re probably rolling your eyes thinking I’m “one of those” ex-smokers. I’m not. I couldn’t care less if you want to smoke.
Sure, I hated smoking at the end. But I’m glad I had the option.
That’s the cool thing about living in this country. We have choices. Some people call them freedoms. If you want to die at 30 because you smoke three packs a day you can. Nobody can stop you.
That’s because it’s not against the law to smoke. Regardless of whether or not it should be, there is no federal or state law that says smoking is a crime.
The University has no business banning smoking.
It’s a nice idea. And the people who thought up the scheme probably had their hearts in the right place. But they went way too far.
If I want to hang out in the parking lot and smoke a cigarette I should be able to. If I want to enjoy a beautiful morning on the Gorham campus with a cigarette in my mouth that should be my right.
This doesn’t mean smokers should stand in front of crowded walkways blowing smoke in people’s faces. I should be able to walk into a building without being forced to breathe in somebody’s second-hand smoke.
But there’s a big difference between banning smoking on all University property and creating more sensible areas for smokers to be.
A University health official said the plan to ban smoking came up after several students and staff complained about smokers on campus. If the University enforced its existing smoking policy, this probably wouldn’t even be an issue.
The current policy reads, “Smoking is prohibited in all University buildings as well as within 50 feet of handicapped accessible building entrances.”
That’s a joke. Take a walk around Luther Bonney Hall in Portland or Bailey Hall in Gorham and you’ll see a few smokers less than 50 feet away from the doors.
A Department of Facilities Management official already said he’d be willing to help create a more visible smoking section with adequate funding.
Maybe the University should spend a little more time enforcing its existing policies and a little less time at task force meetings.
It’s really easy to jump on the anti-smoking band wagon. Nobody likes the big tobacco companies. And there’s a good reason not to.
But don’t take away my freedoms just to make a point when a policy already exists that would work just fine with a little more follow-through on the University’s part.