I smoked cigarettes and ate them too

I’m a badass.

Well, at least I thought I was when I was a child.

Candy cigarettes were first introduced in the United States in the 1930s. Back then, the packaging for candy cigarettes resembled actual cigarette packaging. (Marlboro vs Marboro) When candy cigarettes were first introduced, parents were not concerned because smoking was not seen as a big issue. Countries did not start banning the manufacture of candy cigarettes until the 1950s, because this was when health reports came out detailing how dangerous smoking is.  

When I was in elementary school, my favorite place to go to was the oriental store. Any chance I got, I would go because my parents always let me pick out one thing, and I always chose candy. (Excuse my next sentence. I wasn’t sure how else to express myself LOL) Dude, y’all don’t understand how lit the candy selection was at the oriental store I went to. My parents would leave my siblings and I in the candy section while they went and grabbed their things (Hmong parent logic – have a lot of kids so they can watch each other). Starburst was my usual go to, but I remember browsing the candy selection one day and I found a pack of candy cigarettes. The word cigarettes did not appear on the packing, instead the word sticks replaced it. My parents purchased the candy sticks for me that day, and I was so excited to go home so I could open my candy. I remember opening the box and holding the candy as if it was a cigarette. I thought I was so cool because I felt like a grown up. After a few minutes of pretending, I took a bite of my candy stick… it was as bland as it looked. I was so disappointed, but I did not throw away the candy. Looking back, I think I kept the box of candy sticks because I wanted to be cool like my older cousins.

Candy cigarettes along with movies and family members that portray smoking as something grown ups do make it acceptable to be addicted. They made smoking look acceptable to a little 10 year old. 

Now, I occasionally smoke a cigarette here and there. I know the consequences of smoking (D.A.R.E and high school health class), but that does not stop me from smoking in a social setting, because I am of age to purchase and smoke cigarettes and we all die eventually so why not live a little? (joking)