[Livia]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

Although i've mentioned it several times already, it doesn't seem you have considered it. Whether alcohol or tobacco are currently legal or not is completely irrelevant. Tobacco won't be legal for much longer, I would say that within 1 or 2 generations it will be completely illegal. There is a general move to tighten up alcohol too, so measures are becoming more restrictive in general, not less so. So why, under those circumstances do you believe that cannabis should buck that trend.

Personally, I think it is primarily an age related issue around entitlement. In my youth I dabbled plenty with cannabis so I know with personal experience the effects that it has and I'm an ex-smoker too. I wouldn't under any circumstances suggest that cannabis be legalised, it will cause many, many more issues than it solves.

I think the true figures of how many people actually partake would be a surprise. I know lots and lots of people who use it recreationally, not feckless, paranoid unemployables, but high-functioning professionals. It is less damaging than tobacco and alcohol, that's a fact. By making it legal firstly, it can be regulated and taxed, secondly it takes it out of the hands of criminals. If things are, as you put it, "tightened up" with tobacco and alcohol to such an extent that people can't get hold of it , it'll just send it underground and into the hands of the criminal element where cannabis is at the moment. It's been the case throughout history.