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.
Iām 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 donāt āgenerally have to smoke tobaccoā to smoke weed. The Americans donāt. 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
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? Iāve 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 wouldnāt be of any interest.
Second, your position is that it is harmful so ban it. Iām 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. Youāre maybe thinking of resin or hash (very different to weed).
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? Iāve 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 wouldnāt be of any interest.
Iāve 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. Iām not convinced by your premise, but bypassing that, should we then ban alcohol as it is evidentially harmful?
Iām not saying ban it, Iām saying donāt 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, Iād probably cry.
Third, you certainly dont have to smoke tobacco with weed. Youāre maybe thinking of resin or hash (very different to weed).
Fair enough - although Iām pretty sure inhaling smoke of any type repeatedly into your lungs cannot be good for you.
Iād 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 youāre still left with an unregulated, untaxed market. Why go for the half-measure?
With respect to CBās post above, thatās 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 weāre paying a lot of money to placate people who lazily claim that they donāt approve, yet actually have no real stake in the issue.
_ Iād 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 peopleās money, commit fraud and crash the economy. No punishment.
Politicians, celebrities etc rape children for years, cover each others backs. No punishment.
Yeah legalise it, Iād 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 donāt 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 theyāve only had 1 joint??
However we have to be very aware of the potential risks and the fact that it *IS* and can be a gateway drug.
This isnāt an argument Iām 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 theyāve only had 1 joint??
Yeah, obviously driving stoned should not be encouraged and should be punishable in the same way to drinking. But again, itās a weak argument for banning the substance out right. How many substances can you buy/be prescribed that mean you canāt drive? To link to another point you made, Iād rather someone was driving after a joint than after drinking. Not condoning either at all, but one is certainly more dangerous than the other.
I reckon legalise it. It canāt 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.
I think that your personality more than āgatewayā products is what will lead to drug and alcohol use and abuse. As far as weed goes there is a lot to say for the relief it can bring to MS sufferers plus there have been very positive links between light cannabis usage and controlling fits in children. As with almost anything, overuse can give you problems, not just limited to staring into the fridge for minutes on end. Its all about balance.
I am (was) a big fan of the āhighā that you get from good quality weed but not once mixed with tobacco, it changes everything, the nicoteen rush is way too intense. I think on balance I would like to see it legalised if only to annoy the filth and remove the possibilty of looking into their smug faces when getting nicked for having a dusty old hash lump the size of a pea unknowingly hidden in the bottom of your backpack.