I've seen old photographs and film of European beeks using pipes through a veil. I guess they just tuck the screen right in with the pipe stem. I've seen a vid on youtube of an Eastern European beek using a cigarette to smoke the bees.
Nicotine as used on plants as an insecticide is in liquid form, and highly toxic that way because it is much more concentrated. When in smoke, it is much less concentrated and requires accumulation over time. The greatest harm from using tobacco as your smoke is to yourself. You would be the one accumulating the poison. The bees don't live long enough for it to do much damage to them. There are a number of toxic molecules in any kind of smoke.