The Influence of the U.S. Tobacco Industry on the Health, Economy, and Environment of Developing Countries

Abstract

ALTHOUGH tobacco was first used in Central and South America in religious ceremonies, it was the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World and the subsequent exportation of tobacco to Europe that led to widespread smoking.¹ Thus, there has been a long history of tobacco exportation from the Americas to overseas markets. The earliest antitobacco campaign was in 1604, when King James I imposed a tax on tobacco imported from the New World in an attempt to limit the "custome lothesome to the Eye, hatefull to the Nose, harmefull to the Braine, dangerous to the Lungs."² Today, over $3.27 . . .