The Leaf

The Leaf. Nicotiana tabacum. Tobacco. The tobacco leaf has been used for thousands of years by the native people of the Americas for spiritual and religious purposes. It was initially introduced to Europe by Christopher Columbus and was quickly adopted by most of the continent. The plant became one of the leading exports of the American colonies, starting with the Spanish in the late 1400s. In 1610 John Rolfe, an English merchant, became the first to cultivate tobacco, beginning in Jamestown, Virginia. Its popularity and value grew so rapidly that by 1627 over 500,000 pounds of tobacco were being shipped back to Britain yearly. As the British colonies expanded throughout the Americas, so did the cultivation of the leaf. It became so valuable that it was even used as currency in the colonies. Without the cultivation of tobacco, there is a good chance that the settlement of Jamestown would have failed, and the world we know today may have been forever changed.

The smoking of pipes and cigars, as well as the chewing of tobacco, continued in popularity well into the early 1900s. Cigarettes were introduced to America in the early 1800s; however, it wasn't till 1880 that the invention of the automatic cigarette rolling machine really boosted their widespread consumption. The cigarette started to outpace the pipe and cigar during the world wars as they were far more convenient for soldiers. In the 50s and 60s, studies started coming out showing the significant health risks associated with cigarette smoking. Unfortunately, the smoking of cigarettes became synonymous with the use of all tobacco products, and in the 1970s, the war on tobacco took off. The banning of smoking in facilities and institutions has continued throughout the decades and now includes the use of all tobacco products, with many companies drug-testing employees to detect the presences of nicotine.

In recent years, however, there has been a resurgence in the smoking of pipes and cigars. As technology continues to advance and society wants all things cheaper and faster, our culture has become one of constant convenience and impatience. Many adults lack the capacity to hold a conversation without picking up their phones, and children's attention spans have been reduced to less than 15 seconds. Contemplation and reflection have been replaced with stimulation and mindless entertainment. Between food, pharmaceuticals, and phones, the modern man has turned into a lab rat. He remains sedated and caged, growing fat and complacent with a never-ending infusion of dopamine rewards. The pipe and cigar offer a reprieve from the constant barrage of attacks being hurled upon us. The leaf is most at home in an environment of quiet reflection or meaningful conversation and fellowship. Its companions are pen and page, glass and spirit, prayer and meditation. With each whisp of smoke, it offers words of wisdom and counsel. The native peoples of this land understood the gifts it had to offer. I am honored to be able to partake in those gifts and share them with others.