Cannabis and Young Criminals

[Gromit]

Since Cannabis was reclassified in 2004 there has been a overall decline in its use.

However, there has been a marked increase in its use by one group, - young criminals. Now Fifty out of the 51 youth courts in England and Wales have written to Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, asking her to tighten the laws regarding the drug.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2007/09/17/ndope117.xml

If Cannabis use is declining, should the law be changed just because of one group?

[China Doll]

Is it actually that use of this drug has increased or that now that it's been reclassified then people use it less secretively? So actually it's only reported more.

What came first? The cannibas or the criminal?

No, I don't think we should change the law for one group.

I think we should change it for all groups. I think all drugs should be legalised. (So put that in your pipe and smoke it).

[Reverandfunk]

How would a decline in it's use be measured???

[paulos66]

Yes, it must be re-legalised especially if as suggested use in 11-15 year olds has declined - upping the classification is not going to stop any 'young criminal' using it

[jiggy-gb]

I agree with you China Doll, if we legalise them all think of the revenue in taxes we can make as a country for a start. Plus it would empty the jails a bit too, no need for dealers anymore and the drugs would be more affordable so less need for muggings and burglaries perhaps?

[China Doll]

That would be the plan.

Plus the stigma and myths that is attached to recreational drugs might possibly die a death too.

Like binge drinking it happens. Best to tackle it head on than to bury our heads in the sanding thinking of cruel and unusual punishments that don't merit the crime and are likely just to make a younger generation use it even more as a two fingers up to any kind of authority figure.

The link between crime and drug addiction is so ingrained in this culture that you can't tackle it by making the punishments worse. I think if they were legalised we just might have a chance. As it is, too many people are suffering in silence. And there are more victims of drug addiction than simply the attic. We need to find another way to deal with it.

[China Doll]

Ahem... addict.

Attics rarely get involved. Strangely silent on the subject in fact.

[andrea81]

i wish there was aquick answer to it as all other methods haven't worked so far. It just worries me that there doesn't seem to be anything we can do.

Just the other day two teens were smoking canabis in the park where I had taken my son. Why on earth would they even want to do it in a park full of toddlers, honestly, this type of thing seems to be accepted these days and the teens sat there making it up and smoking it as if it was the most natural thing to do on a sat afternoon!

Obviously not even worried about being caught... that says a lot!

[paulos66]

Andrea what is your actual fear/worry about these youngsters having a joint in the park?

[andrea81]

Well paulos66, isn't smoking drugs in a park full of toddlers enough? Or maybe it's having a foul language and thinkign it's ok!

I suppose I'm being such a fussy mother..... when my son is old enough he should go and mix with them!

[paulos66]

So would you be just as concerned if they were smoking cigarettes and swearing?

[paulos66]

coffe, alcohol, cigarettes, aspirin - where do you draw the line with such a glorious total solution

[paulos66]

oops too much red bull, meant to say coffee

[China Doll]

Oh they're different.

They're legal and taxable so we have to discount those.

Those are safe drugs.

[jiggy-gb]

You forgot sugar Paulos66! But then that's allowed too, even though parents the country over are turning a blind eye to their kids shovelling it in to every orrifice at every opportunity and putting a far greater burden on the NHS with their obesity than dope using kids ever could. I don't agree with either, just pointing out that everyone has a drug of some sort, even good kids.

[paulos66]

Agreed it's just legend wants to drown rather a lot of people - wonder if I'm safe?