Intro:
People often ask why tobacco is legal in our society. Tobacco kills more people than any other drug and studies have shown it is perhaps more addictive than cocaine and heroin. Companies have only spent 16 million dollars on lobbying, so the fact that it's legal cannot entirely be due to that. I can explain this confusing topic through evolution.
Hormones:
An increase in Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is something enjoyed by society. It amplifies the perception of masculinity. Androgen receptor (AR) activation causes changes in the body that result in a view of masculinity such as facial hair, broadening of shoulders, and other secondary male characteristics. Testosterone is a weak AR activator compared to DHT.
Tobacco has been shown to increase DHT (and thus AR activation) through two mechanisms. The first method is through nicotine and its metabolites inhibiting the breakdown of DHT directly.
The second is that compounds made from processing tobacco (and also smoking it) form compounds that lower the breakdown of testosterone into estrogen. This allows the body more time to breakdown the testosterone into DHT and thus increase its levels.
Evolution:
DHT increasing drugs are legal because the users are able to transfer their genetics from generation to generation more than non users. This basically means, a tobacco user will be able to reproduce easier because his attractiveness increase from AR activation.
A tobacco user's genes most likely support an addictive use of tobacco. [1'] Studies have shown that genes play a huge role in the severity and number of tobacco addictions. [1'] This means that someone can inherit and contribute to the spread of using tobacco. This spread will force it to stay legal.
The two major worldwide legal drugs both seem to increase DHT, Tobacco and alcohol. In contrast to the legal drugs, Nearly 100% of illegal drugs have negative effects on DHT or testosterone. Opioids have been shown to deminish all androgen hormones. [3'] Marijuana has been shown to act as an anti DHT chemical. [2']
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1' Chen H, Hiler KA, Tolley EA, Matta SG, & Sharp BM (2012). Genetic factors control nicotine self-administration in isogenic adolescent rat strains. PloS one, 7 (8) PMID: 22937166
2' Brown TT, & Dobs AS (2002). Endocrine effects of marijuana. Journal of clinical pharmacology, 42 (11 Suppl) PMID: 12412841
3' Vermesh M, Silva PD, & Lobo RA (1987). Endogenous opioids modulate the inhibitory effects of androgen on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis of normal women. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 65 (6), 1183-6 PMID: 3680480
People often ask why tobacco is legal in our society. Tobacco kills more people than any other drug and studies have shown it is perhaps more addictive than cocaine and heroin. Companies have only spent 16 million dollars on lobbying, so the fact that it's legal cannot entirely be due to that. I can explain this confusing topic through evolution.
Hormones:
An increase in Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is something enjoyed by society. It amplifies the perception of masculinity. Androgen receptor (AR) activation causes changes in the body that result in a view of masculinity such as facial hair, broadening of shoulders, and other secondary male characteristics. Testosterone is a weak AR activator compared to DHT.
Tobacco has been shown to increase DHT (and thus AR activation) through two mechanisms. The first method is through nicotine and its metabolites inhibiting the breakdown of DHT directly.
 |
| Flickr @ timparkinson |
Evolution:
DHT increasing drugs are legal because the users are able to transfer their genetics from generation to generation more than non users. This basically means, a tobacco user will be able to reproduce easier because his attractiveness increase from AR activation.
 |
| Flickr @ photon_de |
The two major worldwide legal drugs both seem to increase DHT, Tobacco and alcohol. In contrast to the legal drugs, Nearly 100% of illegal drugs have negative effects on DHT or testosterone. Opioids have been shown to deminish all androgen hormones. [3'] Marijuana has been shown to act as an anti DHT chemical. [2']
~
1' Chen H, Hiler KA, Tolley EA, Matta SG, & Sharp BM (2012). Genetic factors control nicotine self-administration in isogenic adolescent rat strains. PloS one, 7 (8) PMID: 22937166
2' Brown TT, & Dobs AS (2002). Endocrine effects of marijuana. Journal of clinical pharmacology, 42 (11 Suppl) PMID: 12412841
3' Vermesh M, Silva PD, & Lobo RA (1987). Endogenous opioids modulate the inhibitory effects of androgen on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis of normal women. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 65 (6), 1183-6 PMID: 3680480
