Why is Cannabis still illegal?

[anonymous-user]

Esseesse said:

JS748 said:

Esseesse said:

JS748 said:

Is it not better to help users, if you think they have a problem. If the law does more harm to the user, than the drug, then how does that help? What do you think locking them up will achieve?

Sentencing that acts as a deterrent is out of vogue at the moment, but it helps by making people consider the consequences before they act. Such a law would not do more harm than the drug IMO, quite the opposite.

There are people in the United States serving a life sentence for cannabis possession, did it reduce users there?

Is that the likely sentence?

It's a possibility.

Portugal has decriminalised all drugs, drug use has gone down. Prohibtion does not work in even the most severe countries, is it not time to try another option, looking to countries that have seen positive results from decriminalisation?

[Esseesse]

jogon said:

Ever been to a hazardous drinkers meeting? I gave up booze recently, 8 weeks on Monday, and have been and the stories told of anxiety, panic attacks and subsequent self medicating with further alcohol which only exacerbates the problem is quite a common theme. Should we ban booze too?

As mentioned on this thread, it wouldn't be legalised if it was discovered today. Why does having one bad for you substance legal mean that other bad for you substances should also be legalised?

[Oakey]

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and...

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jul/10/smo...

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/newsevents/news/newsrecords/...

News said:

A new study by researchers at King’s College London suggests that smoking tobacco is associated with an increased risk of developing psychosis.

People who suffer from psychosis are three times more likely to smoke cigarettes than healthy controls, according to the meta-analysis published today in Lancet Psychiatry. Although the association between smoking cigarettes and psychosis - particularly schizophrenia - has been acknowledged before, scant attention has been directed towards the possibility that cigarettes themselves may increase the risk of psychosis.

Should put the cat amongst the pigeons.

[Smollet]

I'd legalise the lot but would impose draconian measures for trafficking and committing crime under the influence

[Gecko1978]

Jogon: "should we ban booze", probably if we discovered it today, as we know the health risks etc and there is not medical upside. however most people seem to be able to control there intake. I think same argument would be made for cannabis.

As an ex alcoholic I find life without booze fine I do not miss it at all, I still have the rare beer maybe 10 pints in a year but no longer have urge to drink and I am much happier for it (also better off, next time you go for a meal look at your wine bill versus food).

So the question is should we legalize something that has few proven health benefits (pain reliefe I think) but has many proven downsides (here I refer solely to the fact smoking is bad for your lungs). You would not want certain food additives legalized as they are bad for you, yet we want to legalize some things we know are bad for us because they are fun.

[Blue Cat]

Make it legal and I can see loads of new users causing all types of problems, rather like just taking away speed limits and trusting people to drive sensibly.

[anonymous-user]

Blue Cat said:

Make it legal and I can see loads of new users causing all types of problems, rather like just taking away speed limits and trusting people to drive sensibly.

Why? It's not like it's hard to buy now, is it? Anyone who wants cannabis now, will find it. Would it not be better if they bought regulated cannabis with labelled THC levels? Plus if you buy from a legal store, they will not have other more dangerous drugs for sale.

[Gecko1978]

JS748 said:

Blue Cat said:

Make it legal and I can see loads of new users causing all types of problems, rather like just taking away speed limits and trusting people to drive sensibly.

Why? It's not like it's hard to buy now, is it? Anyone who wants cannabis now, will find it. Would it not be better if they bought regulated cannabis with labelled THC levels? Plus if you buy from a legal store, they will not have other more dangerous drugs for sale.

you make a good point but I think it comes back to the "Fun" issue. From what I understand thalidomide (spelling) worked really well for morning sickness. There were some downsides though. It was not a fun drug so was band. Now you want a new drug to be legal which we know can cause illness. Why should it be legal whats the benefit of encouraging its sale and use. I am not sure putting people in gaol is helpful in these cases but having it on sale next to marlboro lights etc which we are trying to discourage use of is just not logical.

Perhaps better to study health effects of cannabis like we have with alcohol etc then tell people the truth i.e. slight risk of mental health issues, respiratory illness risk, and constant talking sh!t an going to petrol station late at night for munchies.

[Blue Cat]

JS748 said:

Blue Cat said:

Make it legal and I can see loads of new users causing all types of problems, rather like just taking away speed limits and trusting people to drive sensibly.

Why? It's not like it's hard to buy now, is it? Anyone who wants cannabis now, will find it. Would it not be better if they bought regulated cannabis with labelled THC levels? Plus if you buy from a legal store, they will not have other more dangerous drugs for sale.

Well believe it or not, lots of people actually don't want to break the law and I wouldn't have the slightest idea where to buy cannabis from if I need to. I can see lots of people trying it if it became legal - "just to see what it's like" and not sure that would be a good thing

[remkingston]

Legalise it. Take it away from the black market.


What makes it worse currently is that the blcak market is flooded with very strong strains. Cannabis is made up of two main components; THC and CBD.

CBD is actually an anti-psychotic.
THC gives that high feeling.

A lot of the strains on the black market are very high THC and low CBD. They have been grown to these strengths because of the demand of recreational users who want to "get blazed as f*ck".

You can't go to a dealer and ask for a low THC / high CBD bag of weed. You get what you get. Many of those that want high CBD grow their own quantities at their own personal risk.

If weed production and sale was made legal then there would be monitored and controlled strains that allow users to select which properties they want from the drug.

We are seeing the same problem that prohibition has made in the past. Moonshine was carted around to be as strong as it could be for more "bang for buck".

Legalise it. Contact your MP and see their stance.

Also, relevant:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/104349



My understanding of why it was banned in the first places comes down to mostly tax and pressure from industries which would lose out if hemp was legal.

A lot of the plant can be used in many different ways. You can make paper from it. The paper industry put pressure on America to prevent them losing their stronghold. CBD has been shown to reduce cancer and even cure in some instances. As it is a controlled substance this means research is very very limited.

Edited by remkingston on Thursday 30th July 09:56

[4v6]

Because its as stupid to smoke it as putting your head in a vice, cranking it a few turns and then expecting nothing to happen to your brain.
Reality is far wilder than any drug induced haze, stick to that instead.

[Jasandjules]

John145 said:

Having met several people long term users, I can understand why it's illegal. Psychology is very difficult to objectify, subjective assessment is much easier.

Ever seen an alchoholic? Ever seen the damage caused by drunk people on the average Friday night in any High Street in any town?

Or someone who smokes? Or their end of life patterns?

[killingjoker]

Aphex said:

The Spruce goose said:

too many scare mongers, i've smoked a bit, not got addicted to heavier drugs and work. maybe 1 in a 1000 goes nuts, that is what people focus on.

It is a farce some police forces have allowed home grow for own consumption.

I was always told growing up 'its a gateway drug' but I have never felt the need to try anything else.

Eventually it'll be legal and there'll be no stigma attached but it'll be a long time yet

I smoke. I like it. It's taken me until my 50's to get into it. Beleiving all the guff about it being bad. I have not or am not going onto harder drugs. I drink almost no alcohol now. I sleep better, i work and think better, no more restless leg syndrome either which is nice. I do a skilled job and am a responsible member of society. BUT, don't make it legal. It's my one little piece of two fingers up at the establishment and my guilty pleasure. I don't want to pay even more tax. They'll be taxing fornication next. And remember kids, anything fun is bad and must be stopped.

...now sugar, that is far more dangerous but they keep pumping into your food.

[anonymous-user]

Blue Cat said:

JS748 said:

Blue Cat said:

Make it legal and I can see loads of new users causing all types of problems, rather like just taking away speed limits and trusting people to drive sensibly.

Why? It's not like it's hard to buy now, is it? Anyone who wants cannabis now, will find it. Would it not be better if they bought regulated cannabis with labelled THC levels? Plus if you buy from a legal store, they will not have other more dangerous drugs for sale.

Well believe it or not, lots of people actually don't want to break the law and I wouldn't have the slightest idea where to buy cannabis from if I need to. I can see lots of people trying it if it became legal - "just to see what it's like" and not sure that would be a good thing

Have a look at the reports from Colorado. It's been legal for recreational use for over 1 year. The reports I've seen in the news are positive. It's not like the UK would be stepping into the unknown if we legalise. 4 US states (23 medical), Uruguay, Spain, Switzerland, Jamaica, The Netherlands, Chile, Czech Republic, plus others i can't remember have relaxed their laws on cannabis. There's a wiki link somewhere, it's quite surprising how many allow people to home grow a few plants.

[remkingston]

4v6 said:

Because its as stupid to smoke it as putting your head in a vice, cranking it a few turns and then expecting nothing to happen to your brain.
Reality is far wilder than any drug induced haze, stick to that instead.

Where's your evidence?



http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/weed-is-11...

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-02/24/dru...

Even the Daily Fail supports it:


Government advisors have quit because they haven't been listened to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8336635.stm

Others have been sacked when saying that it is safer than legal drugs currently on the market:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/30/dr...

The Tobacco and Alcohol industry pull a lot of influence. THEY don't want it legal.

[oyster]

JS748 said:

Blue Cat said:

Make it legal and I can see loads of new users causing all types of problems, rather like just taking away speed limits and trusting people to drive sensibly.

Why? It's not like it's hard to buy now, is it? Anyone who wants cannabis now, will find it. Would it not be better if they bought regulated cannabis with labelled THC levels? Plus if you buy from a legal store, they will not have other more dangerous drugs for sale.

I wouldn't have a clue where to buy it.

Where would you stock it? At the local supermarket, next to the vitamin tablets?
In the local corner shop - the one that now sells booze to 14 year olds?

[andymadmak]

remkingston said:

Where's your evidence?

Except that table is far from accurate.

[Oakey]

Gecko1978 said:

you make a good point but I think it comes back to the "Fun" issue. From what I understand thalidomide (spelling) worked really well for morning sickness. There were some downsides though. It was not a fun drug so was band. Now you want a new drug to be legal which we know can cause illness. Why should it be legal whats the benefit of encouraging its sale and use. I am not sure putting people in gaol is helpful in these cases but having it on sale next to marlboro lights etc which we are trying to discourage use of is just not logical.

Perhaps better to study health effects of cannabis like we have with alcohol etc then tell people the truth i.e. slight risk of mental health issues, respiratory illness risk, and constant talking sh!t an going to petrol station late at night for munchies.

Erm, it's thousands of years old.

[remkingston]

oyster said:

JS748 said:

Blue Cat said:

Make it legal and I can see loads of new users causing all types of problems, rather like just taking away speed limits and trusting people to drive sensibly.

Why? It's not like it's hard to buy now, is it? Anyone who wants cannabis now, will find it. Would it not be better if they bought regulated cannabis with labelled THC levels? Plus if you buy from a legal store, they will not have other more dangerous drugs for sale.

I wouldn't have a clue where to buy it.

Where would you stock it? At the local supermarket, next to the vitamin tablets?
In the local corner shop - the one that now sells booze to 14 year olds?

I'm not sure if you're being serious?

It would be an age restricted item and so sold as one. Just with alcohol I would expect the vendor would have to have a license to sell.

If your issue is with your corner shop selling to 14 year olds then that isn't an issue with the item being sold but with the licensing authority not doing their job.

[John145]

Jasandjules said:

John145 said:

Having met several people long term users, I can understand why it's illegal. Psychology is very difficult to objectify, subjective assessment is much easier.

Ever seen an alchoholic? Ever seen the damage caused by drunk people on the average Friday night in any High Street in any town?

Or someone who smokes? Or their end of life patterns?

Yes, obviously, and pretty much everyone I know drinks alcohol. Only one person I know personally smokes cannabis. Surprising none of my friends (drinkers) are alcoholics. Every person I've met who regularly smoke weed and the one I know closely, all are "odd".

The damage to the brain is irreparable and imo is the most important organ in the human body. Yes alcoholism destroys the brain but its much rarer to be an alcoholic than to have the brain damaged by marijuana, when you consider the ratio of users to problems.

I don't believe the scientific evidence I've seen because from my personal experience, it's wrong. I put the error down to the method of experimentation and the use of flaky statistics.