Smoking (marijuana) dates back around 1200 BC–1000 BC, as it was first mentioned in the Atharvaveda and has been documented since at least 2000 BC.
Later in the 16th-17th century, Portuguese traders introduced tobacco to India.
It quickly became popular among Indians by the 19th century, due to its affordability, resulting in it becoming a common practice.
Fast forward to today, smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, and premature mortality, resulting in an estimated 1 million deaths each year.
To reduce smoking rates, the Indian govt. promoted public awareness about the harms of smoking and prohibited smoking in public areas.
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