I think the modern use of tobacco was very beneficial. Someday we will understand the productivity boost from tobacco (in terms of improving personal productivity, not just as an article of trade) was very important in creating modern industrial society.
It certainly had a heyday as a commercial product, but so did more prosaic things like food and clothing. There’s probably plenty of data out there for anyone who would want to try to quantify it. I believe in laissez-faire with respect to drug items (with the more powerful items within the purview of doctors) but that doesn’t equate to recommending them. I had close family felled by excessive smoking so I have seen the dark underside of the tobacco smoke cloud.
Tea, which has caffeine, was a widely traded item too. Taxes upon it were the subject of the Tea Party.