Why is marijuana illegal?

[Crimson Dynamo]

Does anyone know and do you think it shouldn't be bearing in mind the latest findings?

http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2010/11/16/DSCF2812%20sized.jpg

[Ramsay]

Because it kills, duhhh

[Niamh.]

What are the latest findings?

I don't think it should be illegal considering alcohol and cigarettes aren't and imo it would be in a similar bracket to those :shrug:

[Crimson Dynamo]

What are the latest findings?

I don't think it should be illegal considering alcohol and cigarettes aren't and imo it would be in a similar bracket to those :shrug:

The terrible truth about cannabis: Expert's devastating 20-year study finally demolishes claims that smoking pot is harmless

One in six teenagers who regularly smoke the drug become dependent

It doubles risk of developing psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia

Heavy use in adolescence appears to impair intellectual development

Driving after smoking cannabis doubles risk of having a car crash

Study's author said: 'If cannabis is not addictive then neither is heroin'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2782906/The-terrible-truth-cannabis-British-expert-s-devastating-20-year-study-finally-demolishes-claims-smoking-pot-harmless.html#ixzz3FSTtawYK

[MTVN]

Should be legal but regulated imo, maybe needing a license to get it which confirms you have no mental issues or psychotic disorders or something

[Liam-]

Should be legal but regulated imo, maybe needing a license to get it which confirms you have no mental issues or psychotic disorders or something

This really.

It's proven that it does have some medicinal value, so let people be able to access it if they have the proper verification from doctors to do so.

[joeysteele]

Should be legal but regulated imo, maybe needing a license to get it which confirms you have no mental issues or psychotic disorders or something

I can go with this view too.

[Marsh.]

I don't think it should be made available like cigarettes and alcohol, that's a big step backwards IMO.

But it should be made legal and made available to people who can get some positive use out of it and have it prescribed by a doctor.

[Jack_]

The terrible truth about cannabis: Expert's devastating 20-year study finally demolishes claims that smoking pot is harmless

One in six teenagers who regularly smoke the drug become dependent

It doubles risk of developing psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia

Heavy use in adolescence appears to impair intellectual development

Driving after smoking cannabis doubles risk of having a car crash

Study's author said: 'If cannabis is not addictive then neither is heroin'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2782906/The-terrible-truth-cannabis-British-expert-s-devastating-20-year-study-finally-demolishes-claims-smoking-pot-harmless.html#ixzz3FSTtawYK

All of that sounds surprisingly like alcohol too :think:

Daily Mail in moral panic shocker

[Jack_]

I don't think it should be made available like cigarettes and alcohol, that's a big step backwards IMO.

But it should be made legal and made available to people who can get some positive use out of it and have it prescribed by a doctor.

It would be a giant leap forwards if anything because it would reduce people's contact with dodgy dealers with access to harder drugs

[Kizzy]

Should be legal but regulated imo, maybe needing a license to get it which confirms you have no mental issues or psychotic disorders or something

And how would you know again?

[Marsh.]

It would be a giant leap forwards if anything because it would reduce people's contact with dodgy dealers with access to harder drugs

I say it's backwards because we should be moving away from things like cigarettes being so readily available. If we then go "Well, if you can buy cigs, make all of this available too" it makes the problem worse.

The dodgy dealers and harder drugs is why I said I agree with it being legal, just not becoming off the shelf like fags.

There will be dodgy dealers selling harder stuff either way.

[Kizzy]

Let's privatise it, hey if people are using it anyway they may as well be paying tax on it and making some shareholders filthy rich?...

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

erm did we learn nothing from becky's death?

http://i.imgur.com/2gZXOOy.jpg

[Marsh.]

erm did we learn nothing from becky's death?

http://i.imgur.com/2gZXOOy.jpg

She was feeling 22.

http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140319024005/degrassi/images/e/e2/Crying-gifs-10112013-01.gif

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

she would have seen 22 if she did not snort that marijuana

[Marsh.]

:joker:

[JoshBB]

If it is regulated, then surely use of marijuana will also be safer. To my knowledge, as long as it is not overused then there are not any illnesses caused by the drug, however I do believe that health incidents caused directly by marijuana should not be covered by the NHS.

[Kyle]

If alcohol was invented tomorrow it would be illegal and nobody in their right mind would attempt to prohibit alcohol nowadays because it's too entwined in our society. I'm not convinced our society on the whole can be responsible with the legalisation of another substance so it's a no from me.

[Loukas]

Let's privatise it, hey if people are using it anyway they may as well be paying tax on it and making some shareholders filthy rich?...

i agree, it would make millions. But making it private wouldn't solve anything though, the black market would be there causing problems. In moderation i think it's fine. I smoke weed (the good stuff, none of that artificial looking skunky crap). I don't what it made totally legal but the laws with possession should be looked at.

tbh where i live, a large majority of people smoke weed :laugh: when i'm in the park i have people asking me to use my grinder, if they can have a sheet of rizla ect and i don't mind that. People smoke weed walking down the street around here and nobody really gives a sh!t. I know dealers left, right and centre, infact theres 5 that live on my road. My friends mum is dutch and she's a head teacher in a school in north london and even she smokes weed. Not totally just where i live, when im in the city of London, down southbank and even as far as chelsea, i smell weed walking about. My point is in London it's kinda overlooked, the police have better things to do then arrest someone carrying a joint or 2.

[Tom4784]

There's no reason not to legalise it. It's nowhere near as toxic to your health as smoking and drinking is and, unlike drinking, it doesn't make people rowdy and likely to start trouble. It also has pain relief qualities that can be more effective than prescribed medication. There's not one reason why it should be illegal.

[Redway]

Obviously it should be completely legal unless you already have some sort of extreme mental illness (like schizophrenia/extreme bipolar).

[MTVN]

And how would you know again?

How would I know what?

[Kizzy]

How would you know if you were susceptible to triggering a dormant mental health issue, or creating one?

The alcohol/ smoking comparison is a straw man argument, and not relevant as they aren't in discussion atm.

[Shaun]

Haven't you seen what's happened to Colorado? The life expectancy's sunken to 18 and the sole sources of economic activity are marijuana and sales of Twin Peaks boxsets

[iRyan]

A plant in it's natural form, given to us by mother earth, should not be banned or illegal. It's really that simple.

[Marsh.]

A plant in it's natural form, given to us by mother earth, should not be banned or illegal. It's really that simple.

:facepalm:

[Kizzy]

*Grinds up some peach pits*...:hehe:

[Marsh.]

*Grinds up some peach pits*...:hehe:

:fan:

[Marsh.]

Haven't you seen what's happened to Colorado? The life expectancy's sunken to 18 and the sole sources of economic activity are marijuana and sales of Twin Peaks boxsets

:joker:

[Rob!]

Saying the alcohol/tobacco argument is redundant really isn't true. Simple fact is that nobody has ever died from cannabis, as opposed to the millions that have died from tobacco/drinking related illnesses.
I used to smoke it a lot more than I do now, and I can take it or leave it. I enjoy it with friends, but I wouldn't want to sit on my own smoking it all day long.
I can understand the paranoia aspect of it, it can seriously mess with your head. And there is of course merit in legalising medicinal marijuana but it wouldn't stop people getting hold of it for recreational purposes. It's the most dealt drug anywhere isn't it? (Apart from Japan who hold weed in the same regard as we would heroin for some reason. The same country who invented tentacle porn, go figure.)

[Kizzy]

Saying the alcohol/tobacco argument is redundant really isn't true. Simple fact is that nobody has ever died from cannabis, as opposed to the millions that have died from tobacco/drinking related illnesses.
I used to smoke it a lot more than I do now, and I can take it or leave it. I enjoy it with friends, but I wouldn't want to sit on my own smoking it all day long.
I can understand the paranoia aspect of it, it can seriously mess with your head. And there is of course merit in legalising medicinal marijuana but it wouldn't stop people getting hold of it for recreational purposes. It's the most dealt drug anywhere isn't it? (Apart from Japan who hold weed in the same regard as we would heroin for some reason. The same country who invented tentacle porn, go figure.)

You can't state this as fact, it is redundant as they are not relevant. It's like comparing smoking cannabis to taking painkillers, they have different effects and affect different parts of the body.

[Rob!]

It IS relevant though - drinking and smoking are so much more detrimental to the body than marijuana. Two much more harmful drugs are legal and easy to get hold of. :shrug:

[bots]

It IS relevant though - drinking and smoking are so much more detrimental to the body than marijuana. Two much more harmful drugs are legal and easy to get hold of. :shrug:

Its not relevant actually. Each substance should be viewed independently. Just because there are are some killer substances out there that are still legal, doesn't make it right to make another legal.

[Northern Monkey]

Legalise it,Regulate it and tax it.Put the dealers out of business,Up the quality and make money from it to put back into the NHS.

[kirklancaster]

"It doubles risk of developing psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia "

I totally agree with this, and would say paranoia is the most common risk of heavy usage.

Sustained heavy usage also has a permanent degenerative effect on reflex actions and cognitive thought process.

From 'Green Lebanese' to '**** Black' I have smoked resin and bush when I was younger, but quit after a couple of years. Some of my contemporaries didn't and I have seen so many of them FKed up by their continued usage as a result.

I used to box (not professionally) as did some of my friends mentioned above - and over the years in the ring, I witnessed some of these friends become 'unaccountably' slow to throw punches and slow to react to punches. It become noticeable too that their 'punch resistance' was degenerating; the slightest cuff often downed them.

I knew these young guys - they trained, they were outwardly fit, and I could only attribute these changes to their continued heavy use of cannabis. I have also witnessed this 'phenomenon' in professional boxers over the years; brilliantly gifted technical boxers, rising stars and seasoned champions, who deteriorated, started to lose for no reason, and even be KO'd by seemingly light taps. In all cases, the boxers in question have been young black men who 'off the record' were well known to enjoy too much clubbing and too much 'whacky Baccy'.

Like all mind-altering chemical substances - including alcohol - moderation is the key, but for anyone with an 'addictive personality', the continued heavy smoking of cannabis is like dousing yourself with petrol and walking through a hoop of flame.

As for legalising it; it is inevitable. All Governments are useless when it comes to Economic Policies, but unlike the ordinary citizens - who 'crash and burn' if they can't run their budgets or businesses successfully - Government fiscal inefficiency is hidden by their access to reserves of 'funds' via increased borrowing, increased taxation, and the implementation of ever increasingly ingenious forms of 'stealth tax.

Despite this 'reserve' continually being replenished, the rate of replenishment cannot keep pace with the rate of expenditure; mismanagement, gross ineptitude, corruption, an ever increasingly lunatic Benefits System, and the spiralling costs of war, are draining the tank.

The UK Government cannot continue raising taxes and cannot borrow any more money, but they need increased revenue, and quangos and 'think tanks' are already analysing the best way forward to 'legalise' cannabis - take my word for it.

Currently in the UK, and since 2006, only 'Savitex' - a cannabis derivative product – can be legally prescribed by GP's, but only 'privately', 'at their own risk', and only for a narrow band of ailments; including Multiple Sclerosis -- though the ever wily old UK Government have made provision that doctors can also prescribe Savitex for 'other' illnesses 'outside' of the authorisation.

Unlike 'Methadone' - an heroin substitute opiate - which is indiscriminately prescribed under the National Health Service by GP's to Heroin addicts and used to be merely handed to them by pharmacists in a 'takeaway' bottle (a la cough medicine) only to be sold by the addict to other addicts as a means of raising revenue to buy 'kosher' heroin, there is no real black market trade in Savitex.

However, the fact remains that in one form at least, cannabis has already been legalised by the UK Government and in my opinion, this legislation was only a forerunner of things to come; governmental 'testing of the water', so to speak.

I predict that the time is more imminent than we may think, when companies like RYO and Imperial Tobacco will compete and 'tender' for a Government licence to manufacture and sell legal cannabis cigarettes and pre-packed loose bush for the 'roll your own' market, and other pharmaceutical companies will tender for a licence to produce cannabis derived pills and potions in a vast array of products.

The above will coincide with the implementation of more rigorous policing of any illegal growing or selling of cannabis, coupled with more draconian sentencing for those who get caught cultivating or dealing it.

It will also later spawn further multi-million pound contracts being awarded to pharmaceutical companies by the UK Government to supply a whole new plethora of drugs via the National Health, to satisfy a rapidly increasing demand for the treatment of all kinds of mental illnesses, ranging from schizophrenia to paranoid delusions.

Good business all round for the boys-- eh?

This is my opinion and not meant to offend or cause 'virtual fistfights' between forum members. However -- if it does :hehe::hehe: let's hope one of the combatants is not a heavy cannabis user, or it could be a short fight. :hehe:

[Kizzy]

Good post kirk.

[kirklancaster]

Good post kirk.

Thank you Kizzy. :kiss:

[InOne]

It's damaging for people who smoke copious amounts of it from a young age. Like everything else, moderation is key.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

:nono:

becky

[kirklancaster]

:nono:

becky

Yes. :nono:

[Withano]

I've never met a pothead and thought to myself 'wow you're a really suave, well put together guy' Most of them are scruffy unemployed messes. It could be great if people used the drug for medical reasons but nearly all the UK users do not. They misuse the drug to fill the time between not having a job and sleeping.

[Withano]

A plant in it's natural form, given to us by mother earth, should not be banned or illegal. It's really that simple.

this include magic mushrooms and dozens of poisonous berries yh? they should just sell them in Sainsburys.

[kirklancaster]

this include magic mushrooms and dozens of poisonous berries yh? they should just sell them in Sainsburys.

I've never met a pothead and thought to myself 'wow you're a really suave, well put together guy' Most of them are scruffy unemployed messes. It could be great if people used the drug for medical reasons but nearly all the UK users do not. They misuse the drug to fill the time between not having a job and sleeping.
_________________

2 good posts. :thumbs:

[Nedusa]

Because it's a highly addictive highly potent psychosis inducing , mental health inducing drug that takes ordinary young people and turns them into middle aged, zombified, useless, poverty stricken, do nothing mindless couch potatoes...


Is that enough reasons ?




.

[kirklancaster]

Because it's a highly addictive highly potent psychosis inducing , mental health inducing drug that takes ordinary young people and turns them into middle aged, zombified, useless, poverty stricken, do nothing mindless couch potatoes...


Is that enough reasons ?




.

:clap1::clap1::clap1:

[Bluerang1]

It should be legal, less risk of bad dealings

[Ninastar]

"It doubles risk of developing psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia "

I totally agree with this, and would say paranoia is the most common risk of heavy usage.

Sustained heavy usage also has a permanent degenerative effect on reflex actions and cognitive thought process.

From 'Green Lebanese' to '**** Black' I have smoked resin and bush when I was younger, but quit after a couple of years. Some of my contemporaries didn't and I have seen so many of them FKed up by their continued usage as a result.

I used to box (not professionally) as did some of my friends mentioned above - and over the years in the ring, I witnessed some of these friends become 'unaccountably' slow to throw punches and slow to react to punches. It become noticeable too that their 'punch resistance' was degenerating; the slightest cuff often downed them.

I knew these young guys - they trained, they were outwardly fit, and I could only attribute these changes to their continued heavy use of cannabis. I have also witnessed this 'phenomenon' in professional boxers over the years; brilliantly gifted technical boxers, rising stars and seasoned champions, who deteriorated, started to lose for no reason, and even be KO'd by seemingly light taps. In all cases, the boxers in question have been young black men who 'off the record' were well known to enjoy too much clubbing and too much 'whacky Baccy'.

Like all mind-altering chemical substances - including alcohol - moderation is the key, but for anyone with an 'addictive personality', the continued heavy smoking of cannabis is like dousing yourself with petrol and walking through a hoop of flame.

As for legalising it; it is inevitable. All Governments are useless when it comes to Economic Policies, but unlike the ordinary citizens - who 'crash and burn' if they can't run their budgets or businesses successfully - Government fiscal inefficiency is hidden by their access to reserves of 'funds' via increased borrowing, increased taxation, and the implementation of ever increasingly ingenious forms of 'stealth tax.

Despite this 'reserve' continually being replenished, the rate of replenishment cannot keep pace with the rate of expenditure; mismanagement, gross ineptitude, corruption, an ever increasingly lunatic Benefits System, and the spiralling costs of war, are draining the tank.

The UK Government cannot continue raising taxes and cannot borrow any more money, but they need increased revenue, and quangos and 'think tanks' are already analysing the best way forward to 'legalise' cannabis - take my word for it.

Currently in the UK, and since 2006, only 'Savitex' - a cannabis derivative product – can be legally prescribed by GP's, but only 'privately', 'at their own risk', and only for a narrow band of ailments; including Multiple Sclerosis -- though the ever wily old UK Government have made provision that doctors can also prescribe Savitex for 'other' illnesses 'outside' of the authorisation.

Unlike 'Methadone' - an heroin substitute opiate - which is indiscriminately prescribed under the National Health Service by GP's to Heroin addicts and used to be merely handed to them by pharmacists in a 'takeaway' bottle (a la cough medicine) only to be sold by the addict to other addicts as a means of raising revenue to buy 'kosher' heroin, there is no real black market trade in Savitex.

However, the fact remains that in one form at least, cannabis has already been legalised by the UK Government and in my opinion, this legislation was only a forerunner of things to come; governmental 'testing of the water', so to speak.

I predict that the time is more imminent than we may think, when companies like RYO and Imperial Tobacco will compete and 'tender' for a Government licence to manufacture and sell legal cannabis cigarettes and pre-packed loose bush for the 'roll your own' market, and other pharmaceutical companies will tender for a licence to produce cannabis derived pills and potions in a vast array of products.

The above will coincide with the implementation of more rigorous policing of any illegal growing or selling of cannabis, coupled with more draconian sentencing for those who get caught cultivating or dealing it.

It will also later spawn further multi-million pound contracts being awarded to pharmaceutical companies by the UK Government to supply a whole new plethora of drugs via the National Health, to satisfy a rapidly increasing demand for the treatment of all kinds of mental illnesses, ranging from schizophrenia to paranoid delusions.

Good business all round for the boys-- eh?

This is my opinion and not meant to offend or cause 'virtual fistfights' between forum members. However -- if it does :hehe::hehe: let's hope one of the combatants is not a heavy cannabis user, or it could be a short fight. :hehe:

Well said!

I've never met a pothead and thought to myself 'wow you're a really suave, well put together guy' Most of them are scruffy unemployed messes. It could be great if people used the drug for medical reasons but nearly all the UK users do not. They misuse the drug to fill the time between not having a job and sleeping.

Same here tbh...

[Marsh.]

It should be legal, less risk of bad dealings

Let's legalise cocaine too to stop the dodgy dealings involved with that.

[Samm]

Ew no cigarettes smell horrid, I don't want more things that smell rank when I'm in town

[Samm]

Oh if it's not being smoked then idc

[Marsh.]

Oh if it's not being smoked then idc

:joker:

[Cal.]

It makes no difference to me but they should just legalize it and then let the people who want it smoke it and then the people who are against it can just not smoke it or something idek

[kirklancaster]

Well said!



Same here tbh...

Thank you Ninastar. :thumbs:

[Ramsay]

M58kGCQLwxU

Straight up FACTS in this video on why legalizing is bad news

[Redway]

Let's legalise cocaine too to stop the dodgy dealings involved with that.

I don't think you can compare weed to cocaine.

[hijaxers]

Because it kills, duhhh

Nah its because millionaire knobheads who do the lot and don't admit it make the laws in this country !

[Marsh.]

I don't think you can compare weed to cocaine.

I'm not. I'm comparing the "dodgy dealings". Fear of being dealt some dodgy substances isn't really a top argument to make said substances legal IMO.

[Bluerang1]

Let's legalise cocaine too to stop the dodgy dealings involved with that.

tbhhttp://i.imgur.com/yH16fa8.gif