šŸŒæ ā“ Legalise it?

Iā€™ve seen a couple of friends ruin their lives because of smoking excessive weed, so Iā€™d say no.

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How do you mean ā€œruinā€?

Even if the case is made, alcohol is far worse in the ruination stakes, simply because it isnā€™t just the person partaking likely to suffer.

Just because alcohol is worse, it is no justification to legalise something that we know is harmful. Anyway you generally have to smoke tobacco to use weed, so the drug itself might be less harmful, but the shit its wrapped in certainly is.

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Well, one suffers from mental problems apparently accelerated due to smoking excessive amounts of weed (according to his parents this is what the doctor said - weā€™re not able to see his anymore).

The other is dead after getting into heroine. You could tell he was going to get like that after starting smoking weed at 14. One drug led to another.

And thatā€™s why I canā€™t support it. Donā€™t give a shit comparing it to other things, maybe they should ban those other things firstā€¦

Originally posted by @CB-Saint

Just because alcohol is worse, it is no justification to legalise something that we know is harmful. Anyway you generally have to smoke tobacco to use weed, so the drug itself might be less harmful, but the shit its wrapped in certainly is.

Iā€™m simply pointing out the hypocrisy of the position. Every single week there is drink-fuelled violence, whether it happens at home, or in the streets. 33K people die from alcohol related illness every year.

And you donā€™t ā€œgenerally have to smoke tobaccoā€ to smoke weed. The Americans donā€™t. Bongs & pipes are the order of the day.

Your point illustrates just how shitty the law is though. Smoke a joint, and the thing that is MOST dangerous for you is the legal component :lou_facepalm_2:

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Just because alcohol is worse, it is no justification to legalise something that we know is harmful. Anyway you generally have to smoke tobacco to use weed, so the drug itself might be less harmful, but the shit its wrapped in certainly is.

Is it harmful? Iā€™ve not seen any legitimate research into the subject and would be interested in seeing it. Obviously, any reasearch that starts with an agenda either pro or anti wouldnā€™t be of any interest.

Second, your position is that it is harmful so ban it. Iā€™m not convinced by your premise, but bypassing that, should we then ban alcohol as it is evidentially harmful?

Third, you certainly dont have to smoke tobacco with weed. Youā€™re maybe thinking of resin or hash (very different to weed).

Originally posted by @Kingdom-Come

Just because alcohol is worse, it is no justification to legalise something that we know is harmful. Anyway you generally have to smoke tobacco to use weed, so the drug itself might be less harmful, but the shit its wrapped in certainly is.

Is it harmful? Iā€™ve not seen any legitimate research into the subject and would be interested in seeing it. Obviously, any reasearch that starts with an agenda either pro or anti wouldnā€™t be of any interest.

Iā€™ve not seen any research, however every arguement for legalising it states that it is less harmful, which suggest that there is harm being done

Second, your position is that it is harmful so ban it. Iā€™m not convinced by your premise, but bypassing that, should we then ban alcohol as it is evidentially harmful?

Iā€™m not saying ban it, Iā€™m saying donā€™t legalise it - that is a subtle difference. If something was known to be harmful why would you legalise it? We have alcohol and tobacco, which are harmful yet legal, isnt that enough shit in the market place? Should we ban both, from a pure health standpoint, probably. From a practical standpoint - probably impossible. From a personal standpoint - if you banned wine, Iā€™d probably cry.

Third, you certainly dont have to smoke tobacco with weed. Youā€™re maybe thinking of resin or hash (very different to weed).

Fair enough - although Iā€™m pretty sure inhaling smoke of any type repeatedly into your lungs cannot be good for you.

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Iā€™d love to see how much we actually spend on investigation, enforcement and incarceration. With the role of Police Commissioner becoming politicised, weed busts are great for whacking onto the front page of the local rag.

Decriminalisation would be a welcome step in the right direction, but youā€™re still left with an unregulated, untaxed market. Why go for the half-measure?

With respect to CBā€™s post above, thatā€™s pretty typical. By his own admission, no real research done, and would be unhappy if an existing (and worse) vice was banned.

Seems to me weā€™re paying a lot of money to placate people who lazily claim that they donā€™t approve, yet actually have no real stake in the issue.

Originally posted by @pap

_ Iā€™d love to see how much we actually spend on investigation, enforcement and incarceration. With the role of Police Commissioner becoming politicised, weed busts are great for whacking onto the front page of the local rag. _

Bankers gamble other peopleā€™s money, commit fraud and crash the economy. No punishment.

Politicians, celebrities etc rape children for years, cover each others backs. No punishment.

Kid smokes a bit of weed. Criminal.

Ridiculous.

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Yeah legalise it, Iā€™d much rather deal with someone high on cannabis than someone out of their face on drink. Drink tends to bring out aggresiveness, dope tends to put you to sleep and make you very hungry (I swear this is why 24 hour garages were more common in Uni towns when I was younger!).

However we have to be very aware of the potential risks and the fact that it *IS* and can be a gateway drug.

I knew a lot of people at Uni that were heavy cannabis users and their lives did take a turn for the worse, lethargy, general donā€™t care attitude, being stoned during the day etc. etc.

There has been mention of the cost of drinking to the state, accidents, fights etc but cannabis runs the same risk. How many people will drive stoned because theyā€™ve only had 1 joint??

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Can we add a ā€˜sitting firmly on the fenceā€™ option to the vote??

My balance is way too fucked for that.

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Originally posted by @BTripz

However we have to be very aware of the potential risks and the fact that it *IS* and can be a gateway drug.

This isnā€™t an argument Iā€™m hugely sold on. I know people that have used things that are much worse and not touched cannabis, I know people that have smoked cannabis and never touched anything else and most things in between. You can just as easily argue that alcohol is a gateway drug, which will usually be the first thing anyone tries.

Always reminds me of this

There has been mention of the cost of drinking to the state, accidents, fights etc but cannabis runs the same risk. How many people will drive stoned because theyā€™ve only had 1 joint??

Yeah, obviously driving stoned should not be encouraged and should be punishable in the same way to drinking. But again, itā€™s a weak argument for banning the substance out right. How many substances can you buy/be prescribed that mean you canā€™t drive? To link to another point you made, Iā€™d rather someone was driving after a joint than after drinking. Not condoning either at all, but one is certainly more dangerous than the other.

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You could argue that alcohol is a gateway drug to cannabis. Many people try their first joint when they are pissed.

Originally posted by @KRG

You can just as easily argue that alcohol is a gateway drug, which will usually be the first thing anyone tries.

Originally posted by @pap

You could argue that alcohol is a gateway drug to cannabis. Many people try their first joint when they are pissed.

Alright, echo.

:lou_wink:

I did read your point, KRG - but I was looking to make the direct link between the two.

I smoked my first bifter when tanked up and hurled my guts up two hours later. Put me off weed for life.

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I reckon legalise it. It canā€™t be any worse than being on the turps. Except for late night trips to the nearest garage to clean them out of wagon wheels and cheddars.

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Biff & Booze are a bad combo.

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Originally posted by @KRG

Originally posted by @Numptyboi

Originally posted by @pap

You could argue that alcohol is a gateway drug to cannabis. Many people try their first joint when they are pissed.

I smoked my first bifter when tanked up and hurled my guts up two hours later. Put me off weed for life.

Biff & Booze are a bad combo.

Depends which way round you do it.

Anytime anyone says ā€œI tried weed, but I felt sickā€ I ask them if they were drunk beforehand. 99% of the time they were.

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