In states and countries where it is lawful, this is also an excellent alternative for any patients using cannabis medicinally.
Other herbs and flowers such as passionflower can be smoked. There are also these blends of different plants that I've seen smoke shops selling as an alternative smoke. All contents were lawful materials.
Absolutely. I would recommend something like this (or at least *properly* using a wooden match) for anything of relatively high purity that is to be smoked. Too bad your average pack of cigarettes (here in the U.S. at least) is crammed full of so many chemicals that the butane is the least of your concerns...