What are things Canada and the U.S. have that you wished the U.K. and Ireland had?
 

There’s definitely a lot to be grateful for on the British isles (e.g., the NHS, as over-stretched as it is at the moment; a more condensed, textured society and way of being; no guns) but the flip can be switched and go both ways. So what are things you personally prefer about Canada and America relative to the U.K./Ireland?

For me:

1.) Progressive laws on non-alcohol drugs. With cannabis being legalised in Canada and various U.S. states, a finer lens of acknowledgement for the nuance of various cannabinoids beyond CBD, and the medicinal properties from there to psychedelics and ketamine (for trauma, for treatment-resistant depression that might otherwise only respond to MAOIs and ECT, for OCD), they’re making ways over in that continent, with a more moderate drinking-culture in Canada to boot. The U.K. at-least, by contrast, is still very backwards in its approach to drugs besides alcohol.

Tobacco’s rightly fallen out of widespread favour but as far as the nuance of various substances and their sensible utilisation for peace (rather than aggression, which alcohol is notorious for), introspection, creativity, sensorial deepening and medicine (especially psychiatric medicine), there’s an overriding sense of “drugs are bad end of,” despite alcohol being one of the most potentially destructive and harmful substances known to mankind (second only to heroin in many respects). But because it’s so deeply entrenched in the social fabric over here and normalised, even encouraged, not everyone acknowledges or dares to call out the hypocrisy in the gulf between alcohol and other drugs, some of-which don’t even lead to direct fatal overdose (unlike alcohol). You see the mentality of that echoed back through popular media, even our soaps (which are otherwise historically some of the best shows going) and the hypocrisy and double-standards are just very glaring and irritating to watch (e.g., human-trafficking murderer Ben Mitchell condemning Jay over a pint for taking ket. to cope with the grief of Lola passing away, when, really, that could’ve been an eye-opening story about informed use of ketamine to deal with trauma and grief in a medicinal context). I’ve learnt to just skip past those scenes. I just can’t abide the hypocrisy and ignorance, or the notion that you must be a junkie or hardcore stoner yourself to feel like discussions and perceptions about certain drugs should be more nuanced than much of the alcohol-centric discourse allows in this piss-head nation of ours. You don’t need to be non-teetotal to agree that prohibition of alcohol didn’t work and that, despite its many public-health risks, it shouldn’t be illegal and, likewise, you don’t need to be a user yourself to … y’know. It’s all about nuance, not absolutes, and certainly not addiction, because that is a toxic vice that would need to be addressed.

2. Proper seasons in America.

3. The way American healthcare, for all its expensive flaws, is more willing to prescribe certain medications off-label (e.g., topiramate for weight-loss, instead of paying lots for Mounjaro and being put on a very long waiting-list for Ozempic). The NHS can be very rigid and in that sense works against rather than with patients sometimes. Clueless GPs don’t help.

4. All things maple. Canada has the right idea.

Absolutely nothing, and I hate how Americanisms are imported ...

the lastest being Junior Doctors are now called Residents and some people calling Accident and Emergency...ER ...yuk

A leader like Donald J Trump

I do still have you on ignore, but I still saw your title to answer the question.

I thought I was the one who had you on ignore.

I’d say access to tools and parts / building materials, windows and doors especially, like the ones available in the USA

Is there anything from Canada that's better?:joker:

No offense to any Canadians on here.

America would be their Country Music scene at the minute, it's better than what's left of our Music scene imo.

Better range of energy drinks

Nothing really springs to mind tbh

Oh actually, a lot of the McDonalds over there do all day breakfasts so maybe that although it doesn't feel as special if you can get it any time of the day so i don't know :think:

If someone broke into my house with evil intent I would like to be able to shoot them.

Anyone here actually shopped at Walmart?

Yeah

I've been to Asda, if that counts?

I like that Americans stand for their national anthem and fly their flag, whichever side of the political divide they fall. Here, a young girl gets put in isolation for wearing a union jack dress to her school's culture day.

I know the UK has some beautiful spots, but quite simply some of the landscape in Canada and then U.S is mind-blowing. Some of their national parks, for example.

Bears

There’s a place here called cook out and even tho I don’t have it here up north, I would looove to see it do well in the UK

I think it may be Christian owned so idk how that would fly over there, but omggggg the food is so good

Is it like BBQ type food?

Yes and like 80 different milkshake flavours

https://cookout.com/menu/

Also it’s honestly way cheaper than most places too

Ooh, from a food perspective, I am jealous how close the U.S is to Mexico and how accessible true Mexican ingredients/food is. It's quite expensive over here when looking for authentic Mexican ingredients and it's one of my favourite cuisines to cook, so that's a shame.

That link doesn't open for me, tried it on on my phone too. maybe it's geoblocked?

Probably and I can’t remember how to post images on here �������� wahhh

I always here ppl talking about the Mexican food in Texas and I wanna go there sooo bad

…I can see the menu in google but I don’t know if it’ll post…

https://thecookoutmenus.us/

…I think it is showing actually…

Yeah that works, thanks

Yes, why?

It was quiet shocking to me to see guns on sale lol

Speaking of the first point, Moira (Emmerdale), normally a good character, has been unbearable this past week or two. “Holly died of an overdose, and your brother’s out there growing weed?!” People die of alcohol-poisoning. People don’t die from cannabis. There’s no fatal overdose. But yet you’re in the pub every day. Like, just stop with the hypocrisy.

Who knows? Maybe CBD, RSO oil and, indeed, some THC could’ve reduced your tumour and knocked the seizures for six, Moira. But the narrative is supposed to be “drugs, even ones legal in 1/3 of the world at this point, are bad eNd oF, AlCoHoL goOd, even essential,” so we ain’t supposed to question the arrant hypocrisy and stupidity. It’s just irresponsible storytelling in 2025. And no-one asked for it, tbh.

A broader selection of theme parks (instead of Alton Towers, Blackpool Pleasure-Beach, Thorpe Park and maybe Drayton Manor, if that’s still going, being the extent of it; Gullivers’ World doesn’t make the cut) works in America’s favour, too.

Americans also earn much more money (goes without saying), but at-least surgery in the U.K. doesn’t cost an arm and a leg (pun not intended).

I personally have no interest in theme parks.

Americans earn but money but have absolutely appalling workers rights/benefits. The UK isn’t amazing, but it’s a damn sight better than the US.

Universal is coming to Great Britain

Pop tart flavors (yes we can get them but they cost a few quid to import them)

On the other hand guys what do I do about thc when I come visit

Do you guys have the vape version yet?

People who vape weed often use dry-herb vapes (ElementVape unfortunately seems to be U.S.-only). Dynavap is cheap but does the job so long as you know how to use it. Better than stinky, skunky spliffs any day of the week, so long as it works.

There’s range but not as readily available as what’s in the U.S. and Canada. The U.K. is still eager to posit alcohol as the no.-1 drug. And that’s never really changed. We live in a society in this part of the world (the British Isles) that over-values alcohol and turns a blind eye to its numerous dangers just-because its legality isn’t in-question, while more psychologically-productive/useful drugs that are more correlated with peace (rather-than aggression, unlike alcohol in those-disposed people), introspection, sensorial enhancement and spiritual depth than a public nuisance and potentially serious health-problem are demonised. It’s just so deeply entrenched into the culture.

Ninastar you have to understand that the U.K. is still quite backwards in its approach to non-alcohol drugs. A bit of ketamine is allowed in private medical clinics and that’s it. The NHS isn’t interested. The government isn’t interested. Not yet. It’ll head in the right direction one day but it’s still in the stone ages as far as public policy laws go. I don’t know for-sure what’ll happen to you if you’re at the airport and caught in that really sticky situation but I wouldn’t chance it and just stick to the CBD on my way to the UK if I were you. A few misinformed police-officers (who do a great job when they’re chasing real crime, don’t get me wrong; I’m not anti-police, I think they’re awesome and do a very commendable job, I’m just anti-hypocrisy) still operate under the delusion that CBD is illegal and treat it in the same way as THC-derivatives (sometimes even seizing it on the spot, and I’ve seen this happen with just a regular CBD-vape) but that’s their problem. You’re safe with CBD. THC, not so much. You probably don’t want traces of that in your suitcase or vape.

Ugh that sucks bc I don’t like how the smell lingers on you/your friends/family having to be like assaulted by the smell or whatever

I don’t even know what would be local. Now I’m paranoid I’m going to have it on me without realising and then getting detained violently the second I get to the UK

Omg would I be denied entry even if I’m a British born dual citizen? I have opened a pot of worms and I do not like it

I’d stick to carrying universally legal cannabinoids on you (CBG, CBD, presumably CBC, and so-on). I couldn’t tell you what could happen if you’s caught with THC. I ’on. know. I really don’t.

If I were to pick something more serious.

The US has a better justice system compared to Europe as a whole tbh.

I can't think of anything for Canada still.

Judge Judy >>>>>> than the abomination called Judge Rinder, tbf. Rinder really ain’t got it.

Rinder is definitely a bit out there lol.:joker: