In the 1990s, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) sold cigarettes and other tobacco products to inmates. However, in the early 2000s, aligning with broader public health initiatives, the agency banned smoking in federal prisons. Given that taxpayers ultimately bear the cost of cancer treatment for inmates, the decision was both logical and financially sound. While some prisoners resisted the change, many welcomed the move toward a smoke-free environment.

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