Legalise Cannabis

[Theland]

Canada is to legalise cannabis from September.
I think this is a good thing.
Plod knows the so called drug war is lost, with the cannabis trade run by baddies, so it is time we legalised it as well.
NHS chief says don't go soft on cannabis. Of course there are bad effects for some, but is remains far safer than nicotine, and alcohol.
Legalising it will lead to,psychosis for some users, but that risk is preferable to the effects of other illegal drugs and of alcohol.
What do you say?

[1ozzy]

If the government takes control of the "soft drug" market in the same ways as alcohol and tobacco, with a legal amount a person is allowed to posses at any one time, think of the tax revenue that could be raised.
Money not disappearing through the dealers hands.

[Theland]

Yeah man!

[1ozzy]

'And it stoned me to my soul
Stoned me just like jelly roll
And it stoned me"

[NoMercy]

Legal or not, I still wouldn't use it unless I had a debilitating condition which was refractory to all forms of treatment apart from cannabis.

I'm in favour of its use in the medicinal setting, but not for recreational use.

[Theland]

Why not? Far less of a problem than alcohol.

[Theland]

This will do wonders for the Canadian tourist trade.

[NoMercy]

It can alter one's state of mind, Theland, and seldom in a positive way. Contrary to popular belief it is highly addictive and can cause psychotic episodes.

[Theland]

I agree with you. One of my sons has suffered because of overuse. He learned his lesson. Still uses it but infrequently and in moderation, as a relaxant and leisure activity, and not as a way of life. In my younger days I smoked it myself, quite a lot.

[rowanwitch]

Seeing a previously stable and happy well adjusted young man turn into a full on schizophrenic hearing voices telling him to hurt people sitting in a mental ward muttering and laughing inappropriately, and trying to help his family to adjust makes me think that anything other than controlled medicinal use is a bad thing.

[ummmm]

I agree with Rowan. I worked in a psychiatric hospital and quite a few patients had drug induced psychosis.

Cannabis oil is a different matter.

[waterboatman]

Cannabis oil for medical use has been proved beneficial so yes. As a drug for destroying the mind no.

[NoMercy]

I'm sorry to hear that, Theland. I'm not sure whether psychiatric damage can be repaired if Cannabis use is ceased? I would imagine the damage is lasting?

[ummmm]

It can be NoM.

[david small]

Cannabis oil a big yes. The other I’m disinclined to advocate. But if you can’t control it, tax it.

[1ozzy]

Governments can't control something they have no control over.
Just saying it is illegal doesn't work.
By taking control they can educate, minimise usage, control the market and hence possibly reduce the number of users.
Prohibition didn't work in the good old US of A many years ago.
Controlling the supply, as to potency, usage, age etc. educating and restricting may well.

[waterboatman]

Well put oz.

[Spungle]

Sorry to hear that your son is a criminal who wilfully breaks the law, Theland. There is no need to legalise cannabis, and anyone who wilfully breaks the law of the land should be punished. Encouraging cannabis smoking is absolutely irresponsible as an act against your own body (inducing mental psychosis amongst other things)analso wholly incompatible with your Christian beliefs. If you believe your body to be a temple of the Holy Spirit, how can you square this with smoking cannabis for recreational use? Cannabis oil for medicinal use is perfectly justified, and a totally different argument. Prostitution and kerbcrawling may be illegal, people still do it and the cops in large part turn a blind eye- that doesn't make it right, healthy, or justifiable, Theland.

[ummmm]

If it's legalised the Government can control the potency but that won't stop people selling skunk illegally.

[NoMercy]

You're in a good mood today, Spungle.

[1ozzy]

People distill their own "potent moonshine" Ummmm.
Their customer base is minuscule compared to what is legally obtainable.

It's all about gaining some control over what people ingest in some way or another.