because of all the shit thats in the smoke?

 

so you dont suck in solid particles from the thing you are burning.

regular cigarrettes have filters too.

 

hmmm....at first I was gonna say thats a real pot head idea then I realized, actually it probably isn't that bad

 

In any kind of smoke, be it tobacco or some other leafed plant that shall remain nameless, there's a bunch of stuff that you don't really want to inhale. Using a water pipe takes the harshness out of the smoke so it's easier to inhale and also more concentrated.