Health:
I did NOT declare anything ossur as if I was a posek. I am simply quoting the countless poskim who have boldly stated their psak. I have a few sforim in front of me that discuss the issue, with haskomos from the leading poskim of this and the past generation. I would transcribe their statements if it wasn’t prohibitive to spend all that time typing. As if it matters, several add that the first cigarette is also an issur because it is the first of many, and this voluntary succumbing to an addiction is an additional issur. The Chasam Sofer addresses the role of issues of sakanah being even more strict than issur, and that compromises and cutting of corners (sometimes permitted in halacha) are not even negotiable. So if you have an agenda to declare smoking any less of an issur than it is, stand up and proclaim your position. I am standing with the greatest poskim of our generation (and some who have passed on) in declaring every cigarette an absolute issur mid’oraysa.