The smell of weed.
Discussion
DaveE87 said:
I think a serious conversation needs to be had in parliament about it. The US and Canada are moving in the right direction - why aren't we?
Rubbish. The US has far more problems with drug addiction, crime and many other things. Singapore is 100% right on drugs and has very few problems with either drug addiction or drug related crimes. We should definitely be moving closer to their policies. Singapore is better and safer than the US in every way imaginable. DOCG said:
Rubbish. The US has far more problems with drug addiction, crime and many other things. Singapore is 100% right on drugs and has very few problems with either drug addiction or drug related crimes. We should definitely be moving closer to their policies. Singapore is better and safer than the US in every way imaginable.
Singapore is a police state and not one we should be emulating. You can even legally possess chewing gum FFS. We have a culture of drug use and it’s illegality feeds both petty and organised crime in an extraordinary way.
djneils98 said:
Thanks for that! Bit surreal watching it again; somehow it seems unlikely such a test would be conducted for TV audiences these days. I love the look on Gavin’s face when he’s talking to Q after his smoke: classic. I like to think Quentin shared a doobie with the guy after the cameras stopped rolling. djc206 said:
Singapore is a police state and not one we should be emulating. You can even legally possess chewing gum FFS.
We have a culture of drug use and it’s illegality feeds both petty and organised crime in an extraordinary way.
Adopt the policies of Singapore and that feeding of crime would disappear. We have a culture of drug use and it’s illegality feeds both petty and organised crime in an extraordinary way.
Homicides per 100,000 people:
UK: 1.2
United States: 4.96
Singapore: 0.16
Japan: 0.26
It is difficult to find statistics on international drug addiction comparisons but I am certain it is much lower in Singapore and to a lesser extent other developed east Asian countries as well.
The stuff about chewing gum is unnecessary but Singapore has the right policies on serious crime and drugs.
I would agree that the UK is very stupid for trying to take a middle position of making drugs illegal but not being tough enough on them to stop the illegal trade. Either take an ultra-libertarian approach and make it all legal and personal choice or make them properly illegal with real consequences for drug dealers. But it is not surprising to me that the government does not have the guts to go in either one direction or the other, typical half-in, half-out approach of the incredibly feeble governance Britain has had for the last 30 or more years.
Edited by DOCG on Saturday 12th June 18:38
DOCG said:
Adopt the policies of Singapore and that feeding of crime would disappear.
Homicides per 100,000 people:
UK: 1.2
United States: 4.96
Singapore: 0.16
Japan: 0.26
It is difficult to find statistics on international drug addiction comparisons but I am certain it is much lower in Singapore and to a lesser extent other developed east Asian countries as well.
The stuff about chewing gum is unnecessary but Singapore has the right policies on serious crime and drugs.
I would agree that the UK is very stupid for trying to take a middle position of making drugs illegal but not being tough enough on them to stop the illegal trade. Either take an ultra-libertarian approach and make it all legal and personal choice or make them properly illegal with real consequences for drug dealers. But it is not surprising to me that the government does not have the guts to go in either one direction or the other, typical half-in, half-out approach of the incredibly feeble governance Britain has had for the last 30 or more years.
And it’s an awful place where people don’t have free speech or even the freedom to cross the road without a green man allowing them to do it. I do not want to live in somewhere as repressed as Singapore thanks. We could just as equally adopt strict Sharia law if we really wanted to repress petty crime but at what cost?Homicides per 100,000 people:
UK: 1.2
United States: 4.96
Singapore: 0.16
Japan: 0.26
It is difficult to find statistics on international drug addiction comparisons but I am certain it is much lower in Singapore and to a lesser extent other developed east Asian countries as well.
The stuff about chewing gum is unnecessary but Singapore has the right policies on serious crime and drugs.
I would agree that the UK is very stupid for trying to take a middle position of making drugs illegal but not being tough enough on them to stop the illegal trade. Either take an ultra-libertarian approach and make it all legal and personal choice or make them properly illegal with real consequences for drug dealers. But it is not surprising to me that the government does not have the guts to go in either one direction or the other, typical half-in, half-out approach of the incredibly feeble governance Britain has had for the last 30 or more years.
Edited by DOCG on Saturday 12th June 18:38
My vote is for allowing people to make their own decisions. For the avoidance of doubt I have never smoked cannabis and have absolutely no desire to do so but I can see the futility of it being illegal. It’s not massively difficult to cultivate and that’s part of the problem and why prohibition of alcohol doesn’t work. The fight cannot be won so why bother fighting it, it’s not particularly damaging so why bother wasting all the resources we do? Pointless
djc206 said:
The fight cannot be won so why bother fighting it, it’s not particularly damaging so why bother wasting all the resources we do? Pointless
This is how I see it too. I did smoke weed, for over 20 years and it did me no favours, but that was my fault for abusing it, and if it hadn't been weed it would have been something worse. I still think it should be legal, there isn't any justification at all for allowing a substance like alcohol but not cannabis.
I don't think that its fair that the only legal way to change your state is alcohol, why can't people have a choice instead of being forced towards alcohol? Not everyone likes drinking, so they face a lofe of t total or having to break the law
djc206 said:
And it’s an awful place where people don’t have free speech or even the freedom to cross the road without a green man allowing them to do it. I do not want to live in somewhere as repressed as Singapore thanks. We could just as equally adopt strict Sharia law if we really wanted to repress petty crime but at what cost?
My vote is for allowing people to make their own decisions. For the avoidance of doubt I have never smoked cannabis and have absolutely no desire to do so but I can see the futility of it being illegal. It’s not massively difficult to cultivate and that’s part of the problem and why prohibition of alcohol doesn’t work. The fight cannot be won so why bother fighting it, it’s not particularly damaging so why bother wasting all the resources we do? Pointless
I don't know what your source of information is, but Singapore is not at all a repressive country and Singaporeans do have freedom of speech. The only criticism is about how independent the media is but it is a bit hypocritical to hear this coming from a country with a state broadcaster. Jay-walking is minor offence with a $50 fine (repeat offenders may get bigger fines). I think it is much more repressive having a UK government take 50% of your income with all different forms of taxes considered. Singapore has much better standards of healthcare, education, and much lower crime across the board. My vote is for allowing people to make their own decisions. For the avoidance of doubt I have never smoked cannabis and have absolutely no desire to do so but I can see the futility of it being illegal. It’s not massively difficult to cultivate and that’s part of the problem and why prohibition of alcohol doesn’t work. The fight cannot be won so why bother fighting it, it’s not particularly damaging so why bother wasting all the resources we do? Pointless
Yes, I agree on your second paragraph, it is a pointless effort and waste of money unless the government are much stricter on it. But I think UK society is deteriorating to the point where more prevalent drugs could be very damaging.
I went to visit my mum in Eastbourne last weekend with my kids, spent a fair bit of time on the beach and the smell of weed was really strong. I really don't like it, it's minging, and really council which is a shame because Eastbourne is generally quite a nice seaside town relatively speaking
stinkyspanner said:
I went to visit my mum in Eastbourne last weekend with my kids, spent a fair bit of time on the beach and the smell of weed was really strong. I really don't like it, it's minging, and really council which is a shame because Eastbourne is generally quite a nice seaside town relatively speaking
While I understand what you are saying, I don't think not liking the smell of something should be a factor in whether or not people are allowed to do something. I personally don't like the smell of people cooking dead animals on bbq's in their gardens or on the beach, but I wouldn't expect in any way people to stop doing it because I don't like ithucumber said:
While I understand what you are saying, I don't think not liking the smell of something should be a factor in whether or not people are allowed to do something. I personally don't like the smell of people cooking dead animals on bbq's in their gardens or on the beach, but I wouldn't expect in any way people to stop doing it because I don't like it
Yes but the brain most likely dosn't like the smell of it because of what it is and who its associated with.fourstardan said:
hucumber said:
While I understand what you are saying, I don't think not liking the smell of something should be a factor in whether or not people are allowed to do something. I personally don't like the smell of people cooking dead animals on bbq's in their gardens or on the beach, but I wouldn't expect in any way people to stop doing it because I don't like it
Yes but the brain most likely dosn't like the smell of it because of what it is and who its associated with.fourstardan said:
hucumber said:
While I understand what you are saying, I don't think not liking the smell of something should be a factor in whether or not people are allowed to do something. I personally don't like the smell of people cooking dead animals on bbq's in their gardens or on the beach, but I wouldn't expect in any way people to stop doing it because I don't like it
Yes but the brain most likely dosn't like the smell of it because of what it is and who its associated with.DOCG said:
I don't know what your source of information is, but Singapore is not at all a repressive country and Singaporeans do have freedom of speech. The only criticism is about how independent the media is but it is a bit hypocritical to hear this coming from a country with a state broadcaster. Jay-walking is minor offence with a $50 fine (repeat offenders may get bigger fines). I think it is much more repressive having a UK government take 50% of your income with all different forms of taxes considered. Singapore has much better standards of healthcare, education, and much lower crime across the board.
Yes, I agree on your second paragraph, it is a pointless effort and waste of money unless the government are much stricter on it. But I think UK society is deteriorating to the point where more prevalent drugs could be very damaging.
It's simply not possible to police a country the size of the UK in the same way as it might be a tiny little place like Singapore. If it was, the war on drugs in the UK, the US, and every other major developed country where it's been waged for the past however many decades would have been won by now, and this thread wouldn't be here. You might as well be telling us there's "no drug taking on Mars or the Moon, and far less other crime there too", for all the use your comparisons are.Yes, I agree on your second paragraph, it is a pointless effort and waste of money unless the government are much stricter on it. But I think UK society is deteriorating to the point where more prevalent drugs could be very damaging.
Whilst this thread has predictably gone down the road of weed vs booze, it ignores the OP’s most salient point: that weed absolutely stinks and lots of people don’t like it.
I’ve smoked the occasional doobie myself but I’m not really a fan, it doesn’t do a lot for me, I’m more of a craft beer nerd.
However, even as massively over-hopped that my latest artisanal IPA is, I’m not likely to annoy my neighbours with the smell of it. That’s the difference, IMO.
I’ve smoked the occasional doobie myself but I’m not really a fan, it doesn’t do a lot for me, I’m more of a craft beer nerd.
However, even as massively over-hopped that my latest artisanal IPA is, I’m not likely to annoy my neighbours with the smell of it. That’s the difference, IMO.
DOCG said:
I don't know what your source of information is, but Singapore is not at all a repressive country and Singaporeans do have freedom of speech. The only criticism is about how independent the media is but it is a bit hypocritical to hear this coming from a country with a state broadcaster. Jay-walking is minor offence with a $50 fine (repeat offenders may get bigger fines). I think it is much more repressive having a UK government take 50% of your income with all different forms of taxes considered. Singapore has much better standards of healthcare, education, and much lower crime across the board.
You could say the same positives about Switzerland versus the UK, but without independent media. However, their policing of drug taking is generally laxer than the UK. In general there is a lot of freedom, coupled with self responsibility. And assisted suicide is legal. Singapore’s model isn’t the only one. hucumber said:
Don't forget Portugal too. They decriminalised drugs years ago and drug related crime and addiction have gone down.
They decriminalised possession, and instead provide rehabilitation for those caught with quantities for personal use.It's still illegal to be a drug dealer.
aparna said:
You could move to a country where weed is legalised so customers can more easily buy odourless strains not soaked in pesticides?
The modern stuff does smell like a garden shed filled with assorted weedkillers and fertilisers. Resin used to have a more tolerable sweet smell.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff