Marijuana...

[love]light · Post by **[love]light** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:02 am

I'm watching a documentary that is covering the debate on legalization of marijuana.

My opinion?

US Government is exposing itself as a hypocritical entity. Alcohol, lets face it, is tons more damaging to society & the individual than marijuana could EVER aspire to be. Uncle Sam makes money on the 'sin' tax, which taxes things like alcohol & tobacco. Would it not be just one more way to help pave our roads, roof our schools, and, most importantly, help people fight the side effects of illness?

Whats your stance?

For your reading pleasure:

Should Governments Legalize and Tax Marijuana?

From Mike Moffatt,

Your Guide to Economics.

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Examining a Recent Study on Legalization

The war on drugs is an expensive battle, as a great deal of resources go into catching those who buy or sell illegal drugs on the black market, prosecuting them in court, and housing them in jail. These costs seem particularly exorbitant when dealing with the drug marijuana, as it is widely used, and is likely no more harmful than currently legal drugs such as tobacco and alcohol. There's another cost to the war on drugs, however, which is the revenue lost by governments who cannot collect taxes on illegal drugs. In a recent study for the Fraser Institute, Economist Stephen T. Easton attempted to calculate how much tax revenue the Canadian government could gain by legalizing marijuana.

The study estimates that the average price of 0.5 grams (a unit) of marijuana sold for $8.60 on the street, while its cost of production was only $1.70. In a free market, a $6.90 profit for a unit of marijuana would not last for long. Entrepreneurs noticing the great profits to be made in the marijuana market would start their own grow operations, increasing the supply of marijuana on the street, which would cause the street price of the drug to fall to a level much closer to the cost of production. Of course, this doesn't happen because the product is illegal; the prospect of jail time deters many entrepreneurs and the occasional drug bust ensures that the supply stays relatively low. We can consider much of this $6.90 per unit of marijuana profit a risk-premium for participating in the underground economy. Unfortunately, this risk premium is making a lot of criminals, many of whom have ties to organized crime, very wealthy.

Stephen T. Easton argues that if marijuana was legalized, we could transfer these excess profits caused by the risk-premium from these grow operations to the government:

If we substitute a tax on marijuana cigarettes equal to the difference between the local production cost and the street price people currently pay--that is, transfer the revenue from the current producers and marketers (many of whom work with organized crime) to the government, leaving all other marketing and transportation issues aside we would have revenue of (say) $7 per [unit]. If you could collect on every cigarette and ignore the transportation, marketing, and advertising costs, this comes to over $2 billion on Canadian sales and substantially more from an export tax, and you forego the costs of enforcement and deploy your policing assets elsewhere.

One interesting thing to note from such a scheme is that the street price of marijuana stays exactly the same, so the quantity demanded should remain the same as the price is unchanged. However, it's quite likely that the demand for marijuana would change from legalization. We saw that there was a risk in selling marijuana, but since drug laws often target both the buyer and the seller, there is also a risk (albeit smaller) to the consumer interested in buying marijuana. Legalization would eliminate this risk, causing the demand to rise. This is a mixed bag from a public policy standpoint: Increased marijuana use can have ill effects on the health of the population but the increased sales bring in more revenue for the government. However, if legalized, governments can control how much marijuana is consumed by increasing or decreasing the taxes on the product. There is a limit to this, however, as setting taxes too high will cause marijuana growers to sell on the black market to avoid excessive taxation.

When considering legalizing marijuana, there are many economic, health, and social issues we must analyze. One economic study will not be the basis of Canada's public policy decisions, but Easton's research does conclusively show that there are economic benefits in the legalization of marijuana. With governments scrambling to find new sources of revenue to pay for important social objectives such as health care and education expect to see the idea raised in Parliament sooner rather than later.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:10 am

I think it should be at least de criminalized.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:17 am

My stance - it should never be legalised.

My reason - a cousin with mental health issues so severe he cannot live alone brought on by heavy cannabis use. Also by witnessing the harm that it has done to others (which I will not go into here)

Can I be persuaded that it is less harmful than alcohol - no, never so before I upset someone I shall leave now!!

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:19 am

'[love wrote: light;671801']I'm watching a documentary that is covering the debate on legalization of marijuana.

My opinion?

US Government is exposing itself as a hypocritical entity. Alcohol, lets face it, is tons more damaging to society & the individual than marijuana could EVER aspire to be. Uncle Sam makes money on the 'sin' tax, which taxes things like alcohol & tobacco. Would it not be just one more way to help pave our roads, roof our schools, and, most importantly, help people fight the side effects of illness?

Whats your stance?

Why restrict yourself to the government of America? Most governments are equally hypocritical.

Why stop with Marijuana? The main driver for the trafficking of drugs is that they are illegal - this puts a massive profit margin to those prepared to take the risk. Without that profit margin it is not a cash crop. The fact that the bastards have to push it through the school gate is a fair indication that no-one in their right mind would start using the sh!t without the pressure from the pushers and they'd have no incentive without the artificially maintained mark up.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:20 am

Imladris;671812 wrote: My stance - it should never be legalised.

My reason - a cousin with mental health issues so severe he cannot live alone brought on by heavy cannabis use. Also by witnessing the harm that it has done to others (which I will not go into here)

Can I be persuaded that it is less harmful than alcohol - no, never so before I upset someone I shall leave now!!
You're not going to upset anyone Immy. Abuse of most substances will cause the same harm. It's not necessarily the substance that is the problem, it's the abuse. If you abuse say Tylenol. It will basically kill you. Same with most substances.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:30 am

YZGI;671814 wrote: You're not going to upset anyone Immy. Abuse of most substances will cause the same harm. It's not necessarily the substance that is the problem, it's the abuse. If you abuse say Tylenol. It will basically kill you. Same with most substances.

Trouble is I'm very anti-drugs, some would say over the top with it. But I have seen the harm that drugs can do. Drugs are damaging, the drug culture is damaging and I just can't see it any other way.

However, I do respect the right of others to destroy brain cells and their health if they so choose - just don't see the sense in it.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:32 am

Imladris;671825 wrote: Trouble is I'm very anti-drugs, some would say over the top with it. But I have seen the harm that drugs can do. Drugs are damaging, the drug culture is damaging and I just can't see it any other way.

However, I do respect the right of others to destroy brain cells and their health if they so choose - just don't see the sense in it.
The drug culture was created and exists because of the illegality of the drugs.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:35 am

YZGI;671828 wrote: The drug culture was created and exists because of the illegality of the drugs.

As with any form of Prohibition.

[love]light · Post by **[love]light** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:43 am

As YZ said, if people need an escape, they will find it wether or not marijuana is legalized. I'm sorry, Imladris, about your family member's illness. Its more probable that the addiction was a symptom of the illness.

I have watched friends addicted to meth and even a close friend who died from a cocaine overdose. I know the pain of having to watch the downward spiral. Marijuana is on a completely different level, though, IMO. I will not do hard drugs, as I believe that are like a slip n slide to dangerous valleys. However, I do smoke. Proudly.

Gov't (all gov'ts) should be fighting more important social battles. Concentration on a peaceful group enjoying life and having a toke is ludicris.

[love]light · Post by **[love]light** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:45 am

Bryn Mawr;671832 wrote: As with any form of Prohibition.

here here, the progressive reformers attempted to prohibit alcohol in US in the late 19th century...

it caused more problems than solutions & was quickly reversed. if alcohol is legal, why the hell not marijuana?

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:47 am

Bryn Mawr;671832 wrote: As with any form of Prohibition.
Exactly, Just think if they banned salt starting tomorrow because it causes hypertension and high blood pressure. the black market on salt would go berserk.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:59 am

'[love wrote: light;671834']As YZ said, if people need an escape, they will find it wether or not marijuana is legalized. I'm sorry, Imladris, about your family member's illness. Its more probable that the addiction was a symptom of the illness.

I have watched friends addicted to meth and even a close friend who died from a cocaine overdose. I know the pain of having to watch the downward spiral. Marijuana is on a completely different level, though, IMO. I will not do hard drugs, as I believe that are like a slip n slide to dangerous valleys. However, I do smoke. Proudly.

Gov't (all gov'ts) should be fighting more important social battles. Concentration on a peaceful group enjoying life and having a toke is ludicris.

My last post on this subject because as I said before I feel very strongly on this issue and I know I won't persuade anyone purely by the strength of my feeling and I don't want to spend hours doing research to back up my arguements. Lazy I know but I'm not going to stop anyone using drugs just by posting on here.

My final point is this - the sentence highlighted above is wrong, he was completely fine until the cannabis took over his life. I am not close to this side of the family so it's not an emotional response after watching him slide downhill over many years. For many years I didn't see him - when I did I was shocked, I knew things were bad but didn't know just how bad. He's a mess

There is plenty of documented evidence of how cannabis usage brings on mental health problems, if anyone wants to find it this information please do, I have read some of it and it's quite scary what this 'not as bad as alcohol' stuff can do.

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:24 pm

If i'm walking down a dark street by myself & come across some drunks i'm gonna be pretty scared.

If i come across some stoners they will be a lot more freaked out by me than i of them, i'll take the stoners everytime :wah:

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:27 pm

buttercup;671862 wrote: If i'm walking down a dark street by myself & come across some drunks i'm gonna be pretty scared.

If i come across some stoners they will be a lot more freaked out by me than i of them, i'll take the stoners everytime :wah:
Just take a lit ciggy and do figure eights with it. They will think your a wizard. Of course it will be the funniest wizard they have ever seen.

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:30 pm

1 will say - sweeeeeet

1 will say - wo man she's cool

1 will say - dudes, heads down n swerve the freaky chick :wah:

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:50 pm

IMO,one would find it hard to find a nicer funnier group of friends then Pot Heads. :yh_peace

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:53 pm

I dont smoke myself but have yet to meet a stoner i dont like. Ive met many drunks i dont like, speaks for itself really

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:17 pm

Imladris;671812 wrote: My stance - it should never be legalised.

My reason - a cousin with mental health issues so severe he cannot live alone brought on by heavy cannabis use. Also by witnessing the harm that it has done to others (which I will not go into here)

Can I be persuaded that it is less harmful than alcohol - no, never so before I upset someone I shall leave now!!

I know two individuals with have ended up with full blown psychosis that doctors reckon was brought on by marijuana. As a student I knew some heavy drug users and saw the deterioration in them, watching someone having a bad trip would put anyone off taking anything, I knew one guy that thought he could fly and did so out a seventh floor window, which had a terrible element of comedy about it at the time. Apart from one puff at a joint i can put hand on heart and say I've never touched drugs.

A drop in the ocean compared to the carnage caused by drink. As a straw poll I would be surprised if everybody posting on the is forum did not know of at least one killed or hospitalised because of alcohol, directly or indirectly.

There is plenty of documented evidence of how cannabis usage brings on mental health problems, if anyone wants to find it this information please do, I have read some of it and it's quite scary what this 'not as bad as alcohol' stuff can do.

I would agree with you there. It is scary, just as it is scary how some people cannot leave alcohol alone, yet we tolerate and sympathise with alcoholics and condemn drug addicts out of hand.

Society is hypocritical marijuana wasn't always banned and at least should be allowed when prescribed for medical purposes-after all doctors prescribe opiates, uppers and downers etc on a regular basis. Giving prosac (think that's the spelling) to kids seems to be OK so long as they don't but some dope for themselves. A whole generation of women was addicted to tranquillers thanks to doctors over prescribing without understanding the consequences and no one would accuse them of being junkies yet they are just as much as the heroin addict. Yet MS sufferers risk going to jail if they take a joint to help their condition.

In times past taking opium was very fashionable as indeed was marijuana. The British even went to war to make sure he chinese took their supply.

our attitude to drugs is hypocritical. Having said that I don't really know what the solution would be. But our present way of doing things-like prohibition of alcohol in the states made things a whole lot worse and gives criminals something to use.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:52 pm

Cannabis is often compared with alcohol. In both cases many users get their pleasure by using it sensibly. In both cases some people get harmed by using it to excess or because their bodies and/or minds can't cope.

The demand for alcohol is much greater than the demand for cannabis. Just look what happened when America tried the prohabition experiment in the 1930s (or thereabouts).

I don't know how much trouble is caused in Amsterdam (where cannabis is legal). But I would suspect any trouble of excess may be caused by those not used to moderation, maybe because moderation isn't possible where they come from.

Government regulation of cannabis may bring the price down, & may lead to cases of excess in the early days while people get used to the new freedom. But it may ultimately lead to an acceptance of the choice of people to damage themselves or just self regulate, which many drinkers of alcohol do to no ill effect.

On the other hand if you legalise cannabis where does it lead? Cannabis is the thin edge of the wedge. Maybe cannabis is OK, but maybe legalising it would lead to pressure for other drugs to be legalised too, & then where do you stop.

I don't think I'd have a problem entering a place where people were slightly stoned, I may even prefer stoners to drunks. But then how do you stop problems caused by impared judgement? Alcohol can at least be detected in the blood of drunk drivers, can cannabis be detected in the blood of stoned drivers?

The bottom line may be that responsible use of either drug (alcohol & cannabis) may be harmless. May be. But how many people are responsible enough to self regulate ANY drug where the effects change how you behave. We have one legal drug where abuse causes the police huge problems. Do we really want another?

[love]light · Post by **[love]light** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:08 pm

[QUOTE=Joe;672064] Alcohol can at least be detected in the blood of drunk drivers, can cannabis be detected in the blood of stoned drivers?

QUOTE]

If I am not mistaken, there is now an eye meter of sorts that can detect marijuana usage. I'm unsure on how widely spread its use is, tho.

[QUOTE=gmc;671951] As a student I knew some heavy drug users and saw the deterioration in them, watching someone having a bad trip would put anyone off taking anything, I knew one guy that thought he could fly and did so out a seventh floor window, which had a terrible element of comedy about it at the time.

/QUOTE]

That sounds like PCP or LSD 100% more than it describes the effects of marijuana.

KB. · Post by **KB.** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:18 pm

Alcohol is a far worse drug and kills more people in a month than a doobie does in a decade. It causes more families to become broken, more people to steal, more people to hurt other people because of alcohol than Mariuana could claim in a million years. The fact it is a criminal offense to have some smoke is ridiculous. Sure it causes some major issues I lot the ability to have damn fine conversations with my oldest friend due to the drug, but he never wrecked a car into a van full of pre-schoolers because of some pot.

NotToday · Post by **NotToday** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:23 pm

IMO, anything that alters your mind and body can be harmful if not practiced in moderation. People can become addicted to pot as well as alcohol. I will agree that it takes far more weed then it does alcohol to get someone past the point of being coherent, but all can be damaging if abused.

Chose your own poison, just don't over do it

KB. · Post by **KB.** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:33 am

Or just too sleepy to care?

It never did a thing for me but make me want to sleep, didn't even give me the munchies.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:53 am

'[love wrote: light;672077'][QUOTE=Joe;672064] Alcohol can at least be detected in the blood of drunk drivers, can cannabis be detected in the blood of stoned drivers?

QUOTE]

If I am not mistaken, there is now an eye meter of sorts that can detect marijuana usage. I'm unsure on how widely spread its use is, tho.

[QUOTE=gmc;671951] As a student I knew some heavy drug users and saw the deterioration in them, watching someone having a bad trip would put anyone off taking anything, I knew one guy that thought he could fly and did so out a seventh floor window, which had a terrible element of comedy about it at the time.

/QUOTE]

That sounds like PCP or LSD 100% more than it describes the effects of marijuana.

You're right it was LSD, bit of a tangent but relevant in that one of the arguments against Marijuana is that it leads on to harder drugs. I don't know if anyone has done research in to smoking and that leading on to trying marijuana and follow on to harder drugs. Certainly if you smoke cigarettes then trying a joint is no big jump. One drug leads to another the arguement goes.

[love]light · Post by **[love]light** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:43 am

I have been smoking for many many years & have never once been tempted to do a real drug. I, personally, have never understood the "gateway" theory. It seems to me that if a person wants to do a drug, they will. If they don't, they won't. Blaming marijuana for a person being addicted to, say, cocaine is obtuse. They are two different entities all together.

In addition, can I just say this:

If a person is smoking enough marijuana to bring on severe psychological effects, there is a reason. A person is not guided by the joint, the joint is guided by the person. Studies have shown that physical addiction is a non-issue.

Do people abuse it? Yes. Do people abuse otc sleeping pills? yes. Nyquil? yes. People even abuse food, hoping to fill a already present void.

If there is ever a problem with the usage of marijuana, its the user, not the plant. Everyone makes choices & everyone should be held accountable for those choices.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:44 am

'[love wrote: light;672336']I have been smoking for many many years & have never once been tempted to do a real drug. I, personally, have never understood the "gateway" theory. It seems to me that if a person wants to do a drug, they will. If they don't, they won't. Blaming marijuana for a person being addicted to, say, cocaine is obtuse. They are two different entities all together.

In addition, can I just say this:

If a person is smoking enough marijuana to bring on severe psychological effects, there is a reason. A person is not guided by the joint, the joint is guided by the person. Studies have shown that physical addiction is a non-issue.

Do people abuse it? Yes. Do people abuse otc sleeping pills? yes. Nyquil? yes. People even abuse food, hoping to fill a already present void.

If there is ever a problem with the usage of marijuana, its the user, not the plant. Everyone makes choices & everyone should be held accountable for those choices.
If you smoke more dope you don't get higher just lower on dope.

[love]light · Post by **[love]light** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:46 am

YZGI;672337 wrote: If you smoke more dope you don't get higher just lower on dope.

oh lawwwwwwwwwd. you sound like a late night tv evangilist.

:wah:

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:51 am

'[love wrote: light;672340']oh lawwwwwwwwwd. you sound like a late night tv evangilist.

:wah:
You being a stoner I thought you would have heard that before.

When you have alleady gotten high and someone wants to do more, that used to be the saying. Of course that was years ago.

[love]light · Post by **[love]light** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:56 am

YZGI;672343 wrote: You being a stoner I thought you would have heard that before.

When you have alleady gotten high and someone wants to do more, that used to be the saying. Of course that was years ago.

I am not, sir, a stoner. I am a spiritual being perpetuating the traditions of our Native Americans.

Ummmmmmm.

Yea.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:57 am

'[love wrote: light;672348']I am not, sir, a stoner. I am a spiritual being perpetuating the traditions of our Native Americans.

Ummmmmmm.

Yea.

;)
Thats what I meant, you being of the native amercain stone tribe.

[love]light · Post by **[love]light** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:59 am

I accept that stereotype.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:53 am

'[love wrote: light;672336']I have been smoking for many many years & have never once been tempted to do a real drug. I, personally, have never understood the "gateway" theory. It seems to me that if a person wants to do a drug, they will. If they don't, they won't. Blaming marijuana for a person being addicted to, say, cocaine is obtuse. They are two different entities all together.

Because it is illegal a person must go to a pusher to get hold of it. It is in the pusher's interest to persuade the user onto something harder (more expensive) so, today, there is some degree of movement from Marijuana to harder drugs.

To say that that movement is intrinsic to the use of Marijuana *is* obtuse and is a typical example of the spin being used.

[love]light · Post by **[love]light** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:55 am

In my life, I have only met a select few sellers of marijuana who also sold other drugs. Never have I had a dealer try to "push" another drug on to me. Drugs sell themselves. If people want it, they find it. Dealers don't have to get degrees in marketing to be successful

They just have to be there. They wouldn't have jobs if there wasn't a demand.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:09 pm

Most politicians probably dont smoke pot so why would they legalize it ?

Theres no pot lobby to line their pockets so whats in it for them ?

JacksDad · Post by **JacksDad** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:40 pm

Nomad;672639 wrote: Most politicians probably dont smoke pot so why would they legalize it ?

Theres no pot lobby to line their pockets so whats in it for them ?

Have you ever listened to a John Kerry speech?

:sneaky:

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 1:47 am

Just out of interest.....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/a ... ge_id=1770

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/a ... ge_id=1770

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 2:43 am

Imladris;673253 wrote: Just out of interest.....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/a ... ge_id=1770

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/a ... ge_id=1770

I don't know what skunk is compared to the regular so I can't comment too much on that part but this sounds to me like another instance where someone's already sick and they put the blame on whatever drug they're using be it grass or Prozac. That seems to be rather common.

I highly doubt that this "magic" grass caused this guy's schizophrenia. I just can't buy it after all the previous studies I've read. I would go so far as to say that *maybe* the grass tipped him over the edge (if even that) but I'd put hard money down that the guy was already schizoid. In fact the article really ticks me off in that it seems like they're using mental illness as a scare tactic to keep people off grass and I don't appreciate that.

Regarding the second article, it sounds a touch more believable. Just a touch. We know cigarettes are bad for their tar and nicotine, and obviously smoke is an irritant to the bronchii and lungs but come on- one joint as bad as five cigarettes?! Again, it screams scare tactic to me. I just can't buy that.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 4:15 am

Even if these anecdotes are evidence for general statistics

Even if smoking mariuana "leads" to heavier drugs

Even if it's bad for your lungs

The gov't should never be allowed to protect a competent adult from himself. If ya want to be stupid, you should be allowed to be stupid.

Legalize it.

henrychalder · Post by **henrychalder** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:02 am

Yep, I agree with that.

As a person who once regularly inhaled, I found it to be harmful in respects of sanity and regretted ever touching the stuff, it was in fact over rated, but it seems there is a bigger problem with stronger cannabis on the market with people now becoming addicted something I never thought cannabis could do, this is partly a culture that comes from the Caribbean, an area that has 90% of children born out of wedlock, a problem with aids and mental problems of schizophrenia, I've been there and seen it for myself.

I think it must be legalized though to make it difficult for drugs dealers but there are cases of 6 year old children with addiction. The governments relaxing of the law on cannabis sent out the wrong message to young people, so I say legalize it but put in a lot of amendments as to when the stuff can be consumed and where and make stiff sentences to people who supply the drugs to the young. Legalize it but make it social-ably unacceptable by education.

I've noticed a lot of people in the London area smoking spliff's whilst driving in the past couple of years, we must rid the country of this seedy culture

[love]light · Post by **[love]light** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 4:09 pm

Nomad;672639 wrote: Most politicians probably dont smoke pot so why would they legalize it ?

Theres no pot lobby to line their pockets so whats in it for them ?

FYI: my dad's a mayor, he smokes... on occasion

[love]light · Post by **[love]light** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 4:10 pm

Accountable;673280 wrote: Even if these anecdotes are evidence for general statistics

Even if smoking mariuana "leads" to heavier drugs

Even if it's bad for your lungs

The gov't should never be allowed to protect a competent adult from himself. If ya want to be stupid, you should be allowed to be stupid.

Legalize it.

here, here brotha

[love]light · Post by **[love]light** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 4:12 pm

henrychalder;673331 wrote: Yep, I agree with that.

As a person who once regularly inhaled, I found it to be harmful in respects of sanity and regretted ever touching the stuff, it was in fact over rated, but it seems there is a bigger problem with stronger cannabis on the market with people now becoming addicted something I never thought cannabis could do, this is partly a culture that comes from the Caribbean, an area that has 90% of children born out of wedlock, a problem with aids and mental problems of schizophrenia, I've been there and seen it for myself.

I think it must be legalized though to make it difficult for drugs dealers but there are cases of 6 year old children with addiction. The governments relaxing of the law on cannabis sent out the wrong message to young people, so I say legalize it but put in a lot of amendments as to when the stuff can be consumed and where and make stiff sentences to people who supply the drugs to the young. Legalize it but make it social-ably unacceptable by education.

I've noticed a lot of people in the London area smoking spliff's whilst driving in the past couple of years, we must rid the country of this seedy culture

:wah::wah::wah:

JacksDad · Post by **JacksDad** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:46 pm

'[love wrote: light;673616']FYI: my dad's a mayor, he smokes... on occasion

I hope his constituents don't read that.

:-2

NotToday · Post by **NotToday** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:11 pm

This is lovelights dream man.. she's obsessed with Harry Potter.. :wah:

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:12 pm

NotToday;673677 wrote: This is lovelights dream man.. she's obsessed with Harry Potter.. :wah:

They say he's showing off his wand in a live show in London.

NotToday · Post by **NotToday** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:16 pm

I wonder if I hang out in this thread long enough if I'll get a contact high... :-2

[love]light · Post by **[love]light** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:47 pm

Accountable;673680 wrote: They say he's showing off his wand in a live show in London.

i'm am desperate to attend and get a close look at that wand... its got a pheonix feather in it, you know. A pheonix is the only tattoo i would ever get.

Coincidence?

I think not.

Steph & Beff: Don't let this ho bogart da heerrrrrrrrrrrrb, maaaaannnnn.

BREAKING NEWS: we are big nerds

NotToday · Post by **NotToday** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:14 pm

'[love wrote: light;673688']i'm am desperate to attend and get a close look at that wand... its got a pheonix feather in it, you know. A pheonix is the only tattoo i would ever get.

Coincidence?

I think not.

Steph & Beff: Don't let this ho bogart da heerrrrrrrrrrrrb, maaaaannnnn.

BREAKING NEWS: we are big nerds

I will always see him as a young lad and not a sex symbol. I just don't get it.

Mitch · Post by **Mitch** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 10:31 am

Joe;672064 wrote: Cannabis is often compared with alcohol. In both cases many users get their pleasure by using it sensibly. In both cases some people get harmed by using it to excess or because their bodies and/or minds can't cope.

The demand for alcohol is much greater than the demand for cannabis. Just look what happened when America tried the prohabition experiment in the 1930s (or thereabouts).

I don't know how much trouble is caused in Amsterdam (where cannabis is legal). But I would suspect any trouble of excess may be caused by those not used to moderation, maybe because moderation isn't possible where they come from.

Government regulation of cannabis may bring the price down, & may lead to cases of excess in the early days while people get used to the new freedom. But it may ultimately lead to an acceptance of the choice of people to damage themselves or just self regulate, which many drinkers of alcohol do to no ill effect.

On the other hand if you legalise cannabis where does it lead? Cannabis is the thin edge of the wedge. Maybe cannabis is OK, but maybe legalising it would lead to pressure for other drugs to be legalised too, & then where do you stop.

I don't think I'd have a problem entering a place where people were slightly stoned, I may even prefer stoners to drunks. But then how do you stop problems caused by impared judgement? Alcohol can at least be detected in the blood of drunk drivers, can cannabis be detected in the blood of stoned drivers?

The bottom line may be that responsible use of either drug (alcohol & cannabis) may be harmless. May be. But how many people are responsible enough to self regulate ANY drug where the effects change how you behave. We have one legal drug where abuse causes the police huge problems. Do we really want another?

You sound like you are a cannabis user Joe ????

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:34 pm

Joe;672064 wrote: I don't know how much trouble is caused in Amsterdam (where cannabis is legal). But I would suspect any trouble of excess may be caused by those not used to moderation, maybe because moderation isn't possible where they come from.

Just realised an error in my post above. Where I put moderation (highlighted in bold in this quote) I meant to say free useage. Hope that makes better sense now!