At least in the United States, smoking is something fewer and fewer people take up these days. This obviously wasn't the case back in the 50's through the 80's, where cigarettes were commonly smoked out in public.
So whenever I see a period movie or show, filmed in the 2020's but taking place in the 60's, there's frequent scenes where characters are smoking cigarettes in a bar or stress-smoking to the filter after a stressful conversation. And I think to myself, "are these actors all smokers? In this day and age? Or is that an unlit prop ciggy with VFX smoke done in post?"
Are fake cigarettes common in film production now, or are these still typically the real deal?
IIRC they weren't smoking, they were "eating sandwiches"
They are eating sandwiches when they are smoking weed. They are smoking actual cigarettes when they are smoking cigarettes. Ted's kids are shocked when they learn this, I don't remember them reacting to the sandwich stories.
Ah I only remember the weed episode
According to https://how-i-met-your-mother.fandom.com/wiki/Eating_a_Sandwich they are eating sandwiches in 14 episodes (mostly in flashbacks, though).
Yeah it's been a while since I watched that series.