legalise cannabis?

[Big RICHARD]

Originally posted by Slick
How about here?

That took all of 5 seconds on google

That link must be a load of FUD, as it disagrees with Dabeeenster's opinions on this!

[DaBeeeenster]

Originally posted by Big RICHARD
That link must be a load of FUD, as it disagrees with Dabeeenster's opinions on this!

Actually, I lend far more weight to this report than your one mate!

Hmmm, the report concludes:

The report's authors call for cannabis use among psychologically vulnerable adolescents to be strongly discouraged by parents, teachers, and health practitioners.

Who's to say they wouldn't have become schizophrenics anyway?

Alcohol causes depression. Should we ban that too?

[Big RICHARD]

Originally posted by DaBeeeenster

Alcohol causes depression. Should we ban that too?

Does it? Long term or short term?

[THCi]

Originally posted by Wiffle_BMXer
yeah legalize it.... but only in certain places is it allowed to be smoked and only in certain amounts is it allowed to be sold and carried

Like hash bars in amsterdam.


And Im all for it as well.

[Slick]

Originally posted by DaBeeeenster
Who's to say they wouldn't have become schizophrenics anyway?

Maybe the fact that 4 times more cannabis users in the report developed schitsophrenia than those who didn't smoke it, this isn't the only report which indicates this google it and you'll find lots. I have a friend who got schitsophrenia and I don't think the fact he was a regular cannabis user was a coincidence. Maybe these people who develop it would have had a high risk of developing it anyway but maybe cannabis was the trigger.....I don't know but I don't think we should consider legalising it for a whole country without knowing exactly what it does, only then can we make an informed decision instead of blindly legalising and crossing our fingers there's no bad consequences later down the line.

[DaBeeeenster]

Originally posted by Big RICHARD
Does it? Long term or short term?

There is a barrage of information if you google alcohol and depression.

[DaBeeeenster]

Originally posted by Slick
Maybe the fact that 4 times more cannabis users in the report developed schitsophrenia than those who didn't smoke it, this isn't the only report which indicates this google it and you'll find lots. I have a friend who got schitsophrenia and I don't think the fact he was a regular cannabis user was a coincidence. Maybe these people who develop it would have had a high risk of developing it anyway but maybe cannabis was the trigger.....I don't know but I don't think we should consider legalising it for a whole country without knowing exactly what it does, only then can we make an informed decision instead of blindly legalising and crossing our fingers there's no bad consequences later down the line.

I think to a certain extent people who have a schizophrenic nature will be more likely to try illegal drugs. Whether one causes the other, and which way round his causality is directed is extremely difficult to test.

I am not saying that cannabis use is entirely free of mental health issues. HOWEVER, I think that it is FAR less of a danger to society in this respect than alcohol is. Far far less.

People take cannabis if they want to. It's fairly readily available. This being the case, if it were legalised and controlled the government could ensure that it did not have crap added to it (like plastic) as well as ensuring the quality and consistency. The money made from it could be used to educate, aware and set up help centers for people who are dependent on it.

There is a CHRONIC shortage of drug dependency centers in this country, simply because there is not enough money for them. We can change this very easily, by legalising and taxing cannabis. I think that if this were done right there would be a NET REDUCTION in people who have mental health problems as a result of cannabis dependence.

I realise that's a lot of hearsay, but I think it's the case, mainly on account of the fact that cannabis is so readily available throughout the country. Why not put it to good use?

[THCi]

Originally posted by DaBeeeenster


I realise that's a lot of hearsay, but I think it's the case, mainly on account of the fact that cannabis is so readily available throughout the country. Why not put it to good use?

Quite an interesting point, that one.

But, surely it will open flud gates for more abuses, especially as you can grow cannabis in an airing cupbard, where as you cannot with tabaco (or, rather its very impractical compared to 'bis).

Either way, its not for the likes of the users or the lobbists supporting it, or even the people against. Its our elected officials decision, even though there isnt any course of action yet proposed (that im aware of) in parliament to legalise it.

[DaBeeeenster]

Originally posted by THCi
Quite an interesting point, that one.

But, surely it will open flud gates for more abuses, especially as you can grow cannabis in an airing cupbard, where as you cannot with tabaco (or, rather its very impractical compared to 'bis).

Either way, its not for the likes of the users or the lobbists supporting it, or even the people against. Its our elected officials decision, even though there isnt any course of action yet proposed (that im aware of) in parliament to legalise it.

Since cannabis is already readily available, why would it open the floodgates? Sure if it was impossible to get hold of, and then became readily available that might happen, but if people have easy access to it already, surely it wont make much of a difference?

[Slick]

Originally posted by DaBeeeenster
I think that it is FAR less of a danger to society in this respect than alcohol is.

Well I agree that we do have a problem with alcohol in this country but surely that's another issue. I'm not saying that we should make alcohol illegal as that would be basically impossible and there are many responsible users....but that's another argument. Are you saying because one drug is allready doing damage to society then that's a reason for letting another drug do more damage?

Originally posted by DaBeeeenster
There is a CHRONIC shortage of drug dependency centers in this country, simply because there is not enough money for them. We can change this very easily, by legalising and taxing cannabis.

Right....so give the impression drug taking is ok by legalising it, make money out of them, see a rise in soft and hard drug users, but atleast then we'll have money to treat them?!? Surely a more sensible approach would be to find funding from elsewhere and then invest it into drug dependency centres.

Originally posted by DaBeeeenster
Since cannabis is already readily available, why would it open the floodgates? Sure if it was impossible to get hold of, and then became readily available that might happen, but if people have easy access to it already, surely it wont make much of a difference?

So the supply wouldn't increase but the demand would, far more people would be willing to try cannabis as they wouldn't have to fear doing something illegal and it also would make it appear more safe if it was legal

[DaBeeeenster]

Originally posted by Slick
Well I agree that we do have a problem with alcohol in this country but surely that's another issue. I'm not saying that we should make alcohol illegal as that would be basically impossible and there are many responsible users....but that's another argument. Are you saying because one drug is allready doing damage to society then that's a reason for letting another drug do more damage?

I'm saying that if the government believes that alcohol and tobacco deserve to have the status of being legal, then they should also do the same for cannabis. Law is not cumulative.

Originally posted by Slick
Right....so give the impression drug taking is ok by legalising it, make money out of them, see a rise in soft and hard drug users, but atleast then we'll have money to treat them?!? Surely a more sensible approach would be to find funding from elsewhere and then invest it into drug dependency centres.

Give the impression that drug taking is ok? Drug taking is ok! You notice every single pub or bar that you walk passed in every corner of England? Or every tobacconist? Is that OK? Drug use is fine IMHO. Drug abuse is a serious problem that needs dealing with in the right way. Based on the way drug use is skyrocketing in Britain in the last few years are you seriously telling me that the current strategy is working?

Originally posted by Slick

So the supply wouldn't increase but the demand would, far more people would be willing to try cannabis as they wouldn't have to fear doing something illegal and it also would make it appear more safe if it was legal

Do you really think people choose not to smoke cannabis in the UK because it is illegal?
This point is based on the assumption that smoking cannabis is not ok. A point that I disagree with.

[Big RICHARD]

Originally posted by DaBeeeenster


Do you really think people choose not to smoke cannabis in the UK because it is illegal?
This point is based on the assumption that smoking cannabis is not ok. A point that I disagree with.

OK, so is it ok to inject heroin? It's your own choice at the end of the day. Should we legalise heroin then? It would mean that you get more controlled doses and we could tax it to high heaven. It's not wrong if you don't harm anybody else.......

[DaBeeeenster]

An interestsing statistic:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2296269.stm

The UK had 6.7 "problem drug users" per 1,000 people. These include those who inject or are long-term users of opiates, cocaine or amphetamine, often committing crime to feed their expensive habits.

The Netherlands...had the lowest number of problem users - just 2.6 per 1,000.

[DaBeeeenster]

Originally posted by Big RICHARD
OK, so is it ok to inject heroin? It's your own choice at the end of the day. Should we legalise heroin then? It would mean that you get more controlled doses and we could tax it to high heaven. It's not wrong if you don't harm anybody else.......

Personally I think that all drugs should be legalised, but I dont think heroin should be sold to non-addicts. This is getting a bit OT tho...

[Slick]

Originally posted by DaBeeeenster
Give the impression that drug taking is ok? Drug taking is ok! You notice every single pub or bar that you walk passed in every corner of England? Or every tobacconist? Is that OK? Drug use is fine IMHO. Drug abuse is a serious problem that needs dealing with in the right way. Based on the way drug use is skyrocketing in Britain in the last few years are you seriously telling me that the current strategy is working?

I didn't say that the current strategy is working, as I said in my last post we do have a problem with alcohol and tobacco but this won't be helped by legalising cannabis. If we did do that drug use and abuse would increase even more.

Originally posted by DaBeeeenster
Do you really think people choose not to smoke cannabis in the UK because it is illegal?

Yes actually, lots of people I know who have never tried it have avoided it for that reason. I don't think it's a moral decision about breaking the law, but maybe they feel if they had a bad experience or a "whitey" they would not be able to ask for help as they were breaking the law. If it was legalised, lots of people's opinions would change about it and they would then go and try it.

[DaBeeeenster]

Originally posted by Slick
I didn't say that the current strategy is working, as I said in my last post we do have a problem with alcohol and tobacco but this won't be helped by legalising cannabis. If we did do that drug use and abuse would increase even more.

It might reduce alcohol use though! Seriously.

Originally posted by Slick


Yes actually, lots of people I know who have never tried it have avoided it for that reason. I don't think it's a moral decision about breaking the law, but maybe they feel if they had a bad experience or a "whitey" they would not be able to ask for help as they were breaking the law. If it was legalised, lots of people's opinions would change about it and they would then go and try it.

That is just lack of education. You cannot be prosecuted for being under the influence of anything AFAIK (unless you are driving or operating a digger or building a sky scraper or something, you know what I mean).

I dont see what's wrong with people trying it. If they are aware of the dangers and risks, and they are of adult age, what's wrong with that? It's up to them, surely? It's not going to turn the country into a nation of zombies (well, no more than Sky TV has done!).

Did you not see my statistic about Holland?