I understand the native Americans used tobacco smoking for ritualistic purposes but it seemed to have taken root everywhere it's brought as a recreational drug. Based on my experience with cigarettes, it's a pretty unpleasant initial experience for most people. Why did it spread so easily and widely (all around the world)? Was earlier tobacco more potent? Was it the result of some sort of marketing strategy? Or did people use it because they saw it as an exotic foreign good?
You might be interested in my answer in this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3rnm98/since_when_are_we_smoking_in_europe_who_was_the/
See also the posts of u/RTarcher in this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/59nygh/is_king_james_a_counterblaste_to_tobacco_1604_the/
And also the comments of u/englishjackaroo in this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4d2o7b/what_kind_of_effect_did_the_introduction_of/
Hi there -- while there's always more that can be said on this topic, you may be interested in this older answer from u/Mictlantecuhtli on the spread of smoking (and smoking technology) throughout the Americas.