Semi-new myself, but moreso just a dirty lurker for awhile.
Agreed with the ideas presented in this thread 100%. If money weren't such a giant factor, we wouldn't be struggling to get a healthier alternative in the clear. The sheer amounts of bad things pharmacology presents as "cures" or "preventative medicine" is flat out obscene. Makes me want to vomit listening to the side effects of the current "ask your doctor" drugs being presented on television, as well as any chantix commercial just flat out pisses me off, sure you *might* quit smoking, but then again you might hang yourself too! BUY CHANTIX!
I would put forth shame and guilt to any proponent of big tobacco, or pharmacology, even my aunt who swears by medication, despite their tendency to screw you up more than help, I've argued with her quite often regarding this in fact. It's just sad that people have to have the bad things happen to them, in order to believe that something may be wrong.
Anyways, sorry to be so depressing and pessimistically viewed, I just feel that until I have the billions of dollars to throw into those greedy fecks in congress' pocket, the desires of the actual citizens of the United States will continue to go ignored.