should cannabis be legalized

[Pol]

Thought I would open this up for debate. Now before I begin I used to smoke cannabis fairly heavily for over 20 years but haven't smoked it for about 7 years.

So ok its looking ever increasingly likely cannabis will finally be legalized , which seems to have come a bit out of the blue, there is s large article about it in todays independent.
As per usual I will throw it open thoughts about opinions, before giving mine.

[Bunny]

Well. I'm afraid im in the no camp. In my experience, it doesnt help 'calm' anyone down. In fact, most of the fist users ive experienced smoke cannabis. Added to that, Im fairly sure that it will store up mental health problems in the future, especially for regular users in there early teens. I think its a dangerous path to tread. Who is to say in ten years coke isnt looking to be legalised. I get people having the odd joint. I have. I just think its a case of the Country can't control it, so lets give up.

[andydrbeard]

When I first looked at this I read it as "should cannibals be legalised" - now that's a whole other thing.

I've smoked the odd joint and am not against as such. However, perhaps the health aspects need to be more fully discussed and taken into account. My experience of every day long term users wouldn't lead me to support making it legal and therefore easier for everyone to get. One of them admits that his memory is completely shot and it's due to the weed. As for the other one it became more and more difficult to have a conversation with him and he's been unable to hold down a regular job since he became a heavy user.

So all in all I pretty much agree with Drummy B on this one. So the authorities can't control it, let's decriminalise it. We don't have the resources to police properly let's turn a blind eye to stuff - same rubbish way of dealing with things.

[fairloveorwar]

the questions that needs answering are..'are people responsible enough' and are people prepared for the aftermath when you fail to hide the knives.
definitely in the no camp, the stuff has serious mental implications, if you're lucky you'll only get paranoid..is the odd puff ok?..is the odd pint?..:p

[Ron B]

 

 I am in The Yes camp. I have been a regular smoker for over 30yrs and it is my quote "stimulant of Choice"

 Now let me say growing up during the late 60's and 70's pretty much it was a right of passage just like drinking beer or wine  underage or smoking underage. and I use to smoke cigarettes I gave that up many years ago Rather have the good herb.

 I have been to Amesterdam and I will in a few weeks be going to Jamaica for vacation and most people know those are 2 big cannabis places.

 Now let me say that the Pot laws in the US are a joke and they should have been changed and Pot should have been decriminalize Years ago.

 I don't think I have to go thru which one is worse Cigarettes or Pot the documents are all there for anyone to look up. Pot  does have it uses as people who use Medicinal Pot can attest to and the fact that more States  Like Colorado are allowing the legal use it is only a matter of time before the laws totally decriminalizing the use of Pot are on the books.  

[Rusco]

There was a short period when I did it in early 2000's. It was rather trying it; wanted to know what it's about. I think I took it for 15 times in two or three months. I remember I felt dizzy for second day too. I gave it up. Found out it's not my sort of thing.

I'm a way too absent-minded anyway so hash wouldn't fit to me. I have some good friends who take it. It doesn't affect to a way I behave with them.

I think legalizing might cause many changes. In good and bad ways. What would former "criminals" then do? Who would be used, or who gets the profit? What would mafia-like criminal gangs then do? Start to rob houses?
I assume that perhaps a society couldn't react to a sudden legalization in a wise way so I'm in the "no" group.

[ldopas]

I dont want to sound like a square, but I too am a no! 

For all the reasons above. Let me add some others can I? I've bored you for years that I am in engineering construction. That job takes me onto large construction projects, building petrol stations, working with the aggregates industries, doing work in food sites. Certainly with heavy industry and sites now drink and drug testing is becoming mandatory. A spliff believe it or not can be detected up to three weeks in a drugs test, cocaine for months.

The incidence of failures is above average in construction and mines/quarries, often with people who do dangerous (to everyone) activities. I don't think encouraging more of it is a good thing. And turning up on site to drive a Terex100 bonged out of your mind and telling the site operator "but it's legal maaaan" is not going to fly! 

ps, for real pain reduction though, I'm happy for it to be on the bloody NHS!

[Master Ray]

Personally, it's one of those things I can take or leave.  If someone has some, I might take a few drags, but I wouldn't buy it myself.  It's nice and all, but not a big thing in my life.

The one thing I do not agree with is the whole 'gateway drug' thing.  That's like saying every teenager who nicks a can of their Dads beer is going to wind up on a bottle of vodka a day.  Ridiculous.

For my money, alcohol is far more of a problem than cannabis... have you ever seen anyone pick a fight because someone looked at their pint / spilled their bird after a joint or two?     My town is awash with idiots who, on a Saturday night, just want to smack someone, anyone, because they've had a couple too many pints of Stella...

But... but... I have a friend, into his forties now, who used to be up for fun nights out with his pals and now just wants to spark up in front of his PS4, night after night after night... fine when you're a young fella (IMO) but when you're middle-aged.. 

Well, that's me, getting off the fence and trying to pick splinters out of my butt-cheeks...

[Shush]

Like many I dabbled with it in my late teens, in fact its what started me smoking, damn    Never became a big fan. Ale is my drug of choice.

I do believe it should be on prescription for those who find it helpful with certain conditions. I do know of an M.S. sufferer who finds it very beneficial.

I would be surprised if it were legalised. The powers that be are determined to end the smoking of tobacco, I cannot see them approving the smoking of something usually smoked with tobacco.

[Pol]

I'm kinda on fence, a few years ago it would have been a massive yes. I can see the financial benefits of it not only from raising taxes but also saving money from the police courts prisons etc. If were going to allow alcohol and tobacco then surely cannabis is no worse. I don't really want my country to become a drug dealer but I guess it already is, I would rather see society get the money than criminals.
Some issues raised, banning it certainly hasn't stopped anyone using it and I totally agree there is health issues but then again alcohol and tobacco. It certainly can be smoked without tobacco and I believe it stays in your blood for a couple months. Yes certain occupations should be banned from using it, though maybe better testing  , I don't think someone should lose their job if they smoked a spliff a month ago.
If it does ever happen then it should certainly have the same restrictions as alcohol

[Shush]

maybe they should invent the e-spliff

[Ron B]

maybe they should invent the e-spliff

 If I was you Shush I would trademark and patent that idea you might be on to something Big. look how big e cigs have become

[Spudthemariner]

I can understand folk being concerned about legalization for 'private' use, however for medical purposes I am very much in favour. I personally know several folk who have massively benifited by using it to ease the side affects of cancer treatment, severe back pain post an industrial accident and a friend who uses it to control spasms.
One thing I should mention is that the two folk I know who used it during cancer treatment, ingested it as opposed to smoking, and now don't use it.

Just a different point of view...

[Pol]

There is already several   ' herbal atomizers ' on the market. I'm no expert but I know there are ones where your only inhaling the thc content from the buds. Definitely agree on medical grounds . Would like to see it decriminalised for people who grow for personal use only maybe a few plants maximum

[Bunny]

maybe they should invent the e-spliff

 If I was you Shush I would trademark and patent that idea you might be on to something Big. look how big e cigs have become

In which case Im patenting the e-pint!!!

Hadnt considered medicinal 'erb. As i understand cannabis oil is beleived to have some properties. I dont know the facts but I beleive anything from a doctor is heavily regulated. If it isnt from a doctor then its an alternative medicine. I'll delay opinion until Ive read facts. But if theyre out there and accepted, I'll go with it.