Hi Kat: Im glad you responded to Mbo, I was going to say the same thing, it is important not to over sentimentalize natives. The brother I refered to, preparing the Kinikinik as completely addicted to mainstream cigs. He did, in the last months of his life, make a distinction and I believe he successfully quit smokeing before he died. I have also made gifts of regular old smokes when I did not have tobacco bundles or my favoirte, some tabocco a freind brings up for serimonial use, grown in the Amazon by the Shippibo. As to the Catholic comparison, another might be that there is a difference between drinking wine as part of the communion and wine for wines own sake, but that does not meen a huge number of priests arent addicted to alcohol. I, on rare occations use tobacco as part of my spirtual life, perhaps less than once or twice a year... Kat, do you know my old pal Dan Charging Hawk from Pine Ridge? He is sometimes seen up Rosebud way. Great story teller! All the best all, and please take the ciggies outside for a puff... enjoy it completely but leave me out of the pleasure.