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Health

Native Smokes vs. Commercial Cigarettes: What’s the Difference?

Gladys V. Smith November 27, 2024
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Millions of people globally enjoy smoking cigarettes every day because of its relaxing and stimulating effects. Call this a vice, but for some of us, smoking is an escape from depressing reality and void, especially when we experience downtime. Perhaps you can relate to this if you have been smoking for many years now.

As you explore the tobacco world, you will come across many varieties and brands that vendors sell at various prices. Depending on your needs or preferences, you may opt for costly or cheaper products. However, as a smoker, you have to opt between commercial and native cigarettes.

Native Smokes

Most indigenous people use traditional tobacco as a sacred plant. Some use it to carry prayers to the world of spirits, while others use it as medicines to heal and give as offerings to Mother Earth. You can order native smokes Canada and give them as gifts to elders. This will serve as a symbol of respect or gratitude.

Most native brands use manufacturing processes and traditional tobacco blends, creating unique flavour profiles. These products usually have fewer additives than mainstream cigarettes, appealing to everyone who wants a natural smoking experience.

Commercial Cigarettes

Companies are responsible for manufacturing commercial tobacco. They do so for customary and recreational use. Perfect examples include smokeless tobacco, hookahs, cigars, pipe tobacco, and e-cigarettes, to name a few.

Companies mostly produce and sell them for profit. They contain many chemicals and produce more than 6,500 chemical compounds when you burn them; some of these are very carcinogenic and may cause the following:

  • Premature death
  • Heart diseases
  • Other illnesses

The Key Differences

Using commercial cigarettes causes illnesses like lung cancer, emphysema, and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). These are life-threatening for everyone using these products, but some manufacturers advertise them to native people, thus abusing their culture.

While commercial cigarettes have dangerous chemicals and people use them for customary and recreational purposes, less-harmful native smokes are natural and often used more respectfully. We can see more differences in terms of the following factors:

Effects

It all depends on the amount of chemicals or nicotine we take at a time. However, the potency of commercial or native products we use may also play a vital role. Some varieties are more potent than others.

Appearance

Have you seen commercial and native tobacco before? Their appearances look different, right? For the sake of those who haven’t seen the two products, commercial cigarettes come with better packaging. However, some native smokes are at par, too.

Cost

Commercial cigarettes are more costly than native smoke, even though the opposite can also be true. The price of any product depends on the brands and stores where we buy it. This is why it is important to buy it from the right vendor or store.

Chemical Content

Both products contain nicotine and other chemicals. However, you will find more chemicals in commercial products because they are produced and grown using the following:

  • Additives
  • Pesticides
  • Fertilizers

Aroma

Unlike native smoke, commercial cigarettes have additives, which give them a unique aroma. This means smoking varieties of commercial cigarettes will produce different flavours.

The bottom line is that tobacco plays an important role in most indigenous communities. Because of that, it is crucial to know the differences between the two products.