[patsylimerick]

Originally Posted by Livia

The vast majority of the most talented, educated, successful and creative people I know smoke marijuana in one form or another. They - and occasionally I – smoke it the way they – and I – drink alcohol, that is, without kicking the arse out of it. Some people I know have been doing it for years and years and years and have not yet turned into Charles Manson. I have never known anyone to smoke a joint then pick a fight. What tires me most are those people who ensconce themselves on the moral high ground and preach that it will lead to "stronger stuff". Not necessarily it won't. And if it does, chances are you were heading for the harder stuff anyway.

One question, Livia, do you think those who buy an illegal drug are in any way complicit in the violence associated with the industry they are funding? If people grow their own, fine. The best of luck to them. But if they're buying it from dealers, they're putting money in the pockets of thugs who don't, generally, confine themselves to marijuana. I don't remember anyone on this thread saying that people turn into Charles Manson but there's considerable evidence linking prolonged and excessive cannabis use to psychoses. There's a very interesting report HERE and several more on the British Medical Journal's website. Personally speaking, it's not about the high moral ground; it's about the risks and a reasoned debate on exactly what legalisation would achieve.