Report from 420 in Hyde Park yesterday.
The scientific case is strong, the economic case is stronger.
Not that either of those will ever matter to our evidence-phobic government.
A former Conservative justice minister has revealed that he was discouraged from asking difficult questions about drugs policy ā for fear that looking at evidence could āunpickā the status quo.
Crispin Blunt, who was in charge of prisons and probations at the Ministry of Justice from 2010 until 2012, said he was told during ministerial discussions that it would politically unwise to ask how much the prohibition of drugs was costing the UK prison system.
āIt always had occurred to me that drugs misuse was obviously a major driver of demand in the criminal justice system,ā he told a fringe event at the Conservative annual conference in Birmingham.
Listened to this episode of Distraction Pieces recently, I found it really interesting. The guest is Neil Woods, who was formerly an undercover Police Officer, working mostly on drug cases. He discusses how, in his opinion, the āWar on Drugsā is not only futile, but serves to solidify gangster monopolies, and increase violence.
Itās about 18 months old, but I donāt think that really matters too much.
2 Likes
A big claim. Thatās a lot of blame to place on a single band.
1 Like
About, bloody, time.
1 Like
It really is daft
We havenāt been able to get hold of medical cannabis when opiated drugs are widely available
At least govt have done something right for once
3 Likes
With medicinal cannabis do you have to smoke it? If so surely thatās going to lead to other health problems.
A kind of distant relative of mine has a rather severely epileptic son. Someone recommended cannabis oil to them to help with his (frequent) violent seizures. They gave them some to try and the results were pretty remarkable.
They only found out it was illegal and not able to be prescribed once they went to their doctor to get more.
They ended up moving to the US, partly, because of the availability of similar products (his dad did also get a decent job offer out there). How mad is it that we are behind the USA on an issue like this?
Itās believed that there are lots of medical benefits that could be gained from various psychoactive drugs. However, due to our pretty draconian drug laws, scientists and researchers are blocked from carrying out tests on them. Madness.
3 Likes
Nah, thereās loads of ways that the THC/CBD can be synthesised and administered.
Creams, oils, tablets etc.
3 Likes
My 16 year old son asked me to stop smoking dope a couple of weeks ago, just after I came out of hospital with alcohol related liver, pancreas and gall bladder issues (theyāre all fucked, the gall bladder came out).
I am very proud of him for doing this, as most of his mates see smoking weed as a future lifestyle choice. He realises that is not his pathway, though I hoped I could cope with alcohol addiction by replacing it with weed.
The weed he and I used to smoke /bong was very home grown and tame, compared to high thc stuff.
It is strange, the people in positions to make decisions about the legality of cannabis have probably moved on from experiencing the highs and lows of it and encountering people who benefit or fail on it.
I think the question shouldnāt be ālegalise this or that drugā, rather legalise all, or make all illegal. What is fun? Drugs or health?
5 Likes
I certainly think Cannabis for medicinal reasons is hard to reason against. It doesnāt get you high, not addictive (apart from itās medicinal efficacy) but its use is now recognised as being therapeutically useful for a number of conditions.
Iāve never smoked so wasnāt tempted even though I was surrounded by itā¦cigarettes simply made me sickā¦Iām sure ditto for Cannabis. Iām not in favour of a blanket deregulationā¦I have a niece with mental health problems due to heavy use of āSkunkāā¦her 3 boys are now living with relatives and sheās alienated from the rest of the family.
My wife has had MS for over 30 years, during that time sheās been offered very little, no I lieā¦sheās been offered nothing. She doesnāt get muscle spasms but apparently a lot of MS sufferers do and Cannabis illegally obtained is the only way they can relieve their symptoms. MS has a multiplicity of symptoms most of which have no recognised treatmentsā¦itās shameful one of the treatments available to them can only be accessed by breaking the law.
4 Likes
There was an excellent piece on PM (Radio 4 programme) a week or so back regarding the decriminalisation of drugs in Portugal. Al drugs there, not just cannabis, are now not legal, but possession of them isnāt a criminal offence - unless someone is found to be in possession of more than would be required for their own needs, in which case they will be charged with dealing.
Essentially, the whole area of drug use is now treated as a health issue and not a legal/criminal one. Drug users are offered treatment and not prosecution. The results have been startling; drug use and associated crime have been massively reduced. The police, who were highly sceptical at first, now wholly embrace the policy, not least as they now have far more resources to devote to tackling real crime (including, of course, the trade in illegal drugs).
A couple of links - the thing I listened to isnāt available, though as it formed part of a news programme thatās hardly surprising):
Meanwhile, our own government is more interested in pursuing an unwinnable āwar on drugsā, apparently based more on ludicrous notions of sin and morality than on practicality and effectiveness.
5 Likes
āā¦Meanwhile, our own government is more interested in pursuing an unwinnable āwar on drugsā, apparently based more on ludicrous notions of sin and morality than on practicality and effectivenessā¦ā
Iād say that to a degree you are right @Fowllyd, but I bet that as soon as someone can ālegitimatelyā make millions for investors and/or the product can be taxed then thingsāll change pretty damn quick.
Ok, Iām a cynic
1 Like
Good point about Portugal. I think some Scandinavian countries also follow this policy.
We have no chance at the moment, as we follow the US system of making incarceration a profit business, so thereās no will to look at it logically.
The war on drugs is a massively profitable business for some and they pay to keep it that way.
Isnāt alcohol the only drug that kills brain cells, whilst being at least on par with mental health problems and thatās before you get the liver problems.
A bit of rational debate by experts, followed by suitable legislation is long overdue.
2 Likes
Having seen the effect of CBD Oil on someone who was terminally ill then that must be legalised now.
On the subject of recreational drugs, the revenues they produce, the care structure around that is important. So yes properly governed States or if it is NOT a religious issue, then legalise it.
UK? Couldnāt put together a Lego set at the moment so perhaps they shouldnāt be trusted.
But they will once Rees Mogg opens a fund to profit from it
2 Likes
I think you may have missed the point here. What you describe isnāt what happens in Portugal, nor is it anything that Iād propose. All the same drugs that are illegal in this country are illegal in Portugal - therefore selling them is illegal, and they clearly canāt be taxed. Thereās a big difference between decriminalisation and legalisation.
1 Like
Mate, I hope that all works out for you. Sounds like some serious shit. Great that you and your son have that sort of relationship too. Hope you find your drug - if itās not to be alcohol or cannabis. We all need one.
Good to see you back on here, Anal One. Hang around - although youāll find most of us boasting about our alcohol consumption over the weekend.
Bletch
This was also discussed on the Reasons to be Cheerful podcast.