When Tobacco Is Illicit
September 15, 2026 by liberalism.org
When Tobacco Is Illicit
Illicit tobacco is what happens after policy stops accounting for demand. High taxes, restricted safer alternatives and confidence in top-down control can turn nicotine into a market run less by retailers and more by criminal networks. That weakens age checks, product standards and public oversight while keeping cigarettes cheap for those willing to buy outside the law. The lesson is uncomfortable but clear: reducing harm requires legal pathways that work better than the illicit ones.
