Legalisation of Cannabis in the UK (Debate)

[LocalNative]

That's not ganja though mate. That's a separate problem.

Yeah but I think it intertwines. Getting what appears to be standard weed, but turning out to be a legal synthetic substitute. I get the argument that legalising weed, could mean more people smoking legal highs also.

 

[Blue 1]

So we should decriminalise every drug then because booze is legal? If my argument is a ridiculous one, then so is yours.

I'm speaking from personal experience. I smoked an awful lot of weed in uni and it affected me badly. As did a good friend of mine.

Yeah good points to be fair. If it was regulated then it'd be weaker than the likes of strong skunk that is about now. Didn't consider that.

Also everyone is different. Some people smoke a joint and feel really happy and chatty, whereas others may become paranoid and anxious.

I smoked a stupid amount at uni, I was getting through two ounces a week at one point, did pretty much nothing else for a while and it took me to a pretty dark place to be honest, but I'm not going to argue against it being legalised just because I was a bit daft for a bit. The legality bit wouldn't have made any difference whatsoever. I've been smoking it for 20 years and other than for that short period, which coincided with a particularly turbulent time in my life, it's been nothing but a massive pleasure.

 

[Blue 1]

Yeah but I think it intertwines. Getting what appears to be standard weed, but turning out to be a legal synthetic substitute. I get the argument that legalising weed, could mean more people smoking legal highs also.

Does that happen?

 

[hibbos left peg]

Touche.

But I suppose it's no different to booze.

its more to do with the personality of the individual, if they have an addictive personality there's a chance theyd abuse whatever substance they used.

that's where the gateway rhetoric comes from

 

[LocalNative]

Does that happen?

I have no idea. It's never happened to me personally, but I imagine if you sold a bag of it to someone who doesn't smoke very often they wouldn't know any better.

 

[Lowste]

No for me

Seen some good lads start of on this and then move onto other drugs

A slippy road for some people

 

[McBain]

I smoked a stupid amount at uni, I was getting through two ounces a week at one point, did pretty much nothing else for a while and it took me to a pretty dark place to be honest, but I'm not going to argue against it being legalised just because I was a bit daft for a bit. The legality bit wouldn't have made any difference whatsoever. I've been smoking it for 20 years and other than for that short period, which coincided with a particularly turbulent time in my life, it's been nothing but a massive pleasure.

In one week? How you alive Bro?

 

[Baines' left foot]

Without doubt there would need to be regulation and what not but alcohol can take some people to dark places too. The problem with ganja is that there is a lot of legal synthetic weeds out there which blow the head off you. I smoked one before and I could not believe how much I was tripping off supposed 'legal high'. They're so powerful and some of them actually look like grounded up weed. They're the dangerous ones as they're mixed with countless chemicals and HAVE resulted in deaths.

However, like everything else, some people abuse the system and what should be considered a luxury. I've got countless memories I will never forget, half down to the absolute laughs you get from smoking. But as said, if it was legal it would give people an excuse to abuse it and sit on their fat plum and smoke it all day long. Those lot give weed a bad name.

I've never done any of these legal highs but it seems some of them are more dangerous than their illegal equivalents.

I smoked a stupid amount at uni, I was getting through two ounces a week at one point, did pretty much nothing else for a while and it took me to a pretty dark place to be honest, but I'm not going to argue against it being legalised just because I was a bit daft for a bit. The legality bit wouldn't have made any difference whatsoever. I've been smoking it for 20 years and other than for that short period, which coincided with a particularly turbulent time in my life, it's been nothing but a massive pleasure.

Fair does. I didn't smoke anything like that amount (probably up to half an ounce a week), but it was a big factor in why I had to resit 4 exams in each of my first 2 years of uni, and a relationship breaking down. My life was a bit of a mess.

I'd just hate for someone otherwise mentally sound to be badly affected as a result weed being made legal, and therefore more accessible. In my experience it can cause severe depression, and depression is an utterly horrible illness.

 

[peteblue]

In one week? How you alive Bro?

Are you smoking something lad, just saying as you posted it twice.........

 

[Blue 1]

I've never done any of these legal highs but it seems some of them are more dangerous than their illegal equivalents.

Fair does. I didn't smoke anything like that amount (probably up to half an ounce a week), but it was a big factor in why I had to resit 4 exams in each of my first 2 years of uni, and a relationship breaking down. My life was a bit of a mess.

I'd just hate for someone otherwise mentally sound to be badly affected as a result weed being made legal, and therefore more accessible. In my experience it can cause severe depression, and depression is an utterly horrible illness.

Not an entirely dissimilar story here to be honest mate. I don't think it was the weed that caused the depression however, but it certainly complicated things at the time.

 

[Titus Bramble]

Not for me. The countries that have legalised it may be working now, but there could be repercussions further down the line. Weed contains twice as much tar as its equivalent weight in tobacco and could increase your chances of developing schizophrenia up to 6x depending on your genetics. It may not directly cause deaths in terms of overdosing, but it can still contribute to developing cancer as well as mental issues such as depression.

The cancer curing aspect is redundant in this instance as well IMO. There is an ingredient in weed (not the hallucagen) that is shown to reduce tumour size in lab mice. This means that this ingredient would need to be isolated and sold as medicine rather than rolling a joint, baring in mind these studies are probably still years off human testing.

Of course, everyone is different and some people may suffer little to none long term effects from smoking weed, my nan was a chain (cigarette) smoker for years but celebrated her 91st birthday last week and has never had lung issues. On the other hand some people will come to a pretty nasty demise.

I can understand the argument for legalising it like, but I wouldn't vote for it to be.

 

[LocalNative]

Not for me. The countries that have legalised it may be working now, but there could be repercussions further down the line. Weed contains twice as much tar as its equivalent weight in tobacco and could increase your chances of developing schizophrenia up to 6x depending on your genetics. It may not directly cause deaths in terms of overdosing, but it can still contribute to developing cancer as well as mental issues such as depression.

The cancer curing aspect is redundant in this instance as well IMO. There is an ingredient in weed (not the hallucagen) that is shown to reduce tumour size in lab mice. This means that this ingredient would need to be isolated and sold as medicine rather than rolling a joint, baring in mind these studies are probably still years off human testing.

Of course, everyone is different and some people may suffer little to none long term effects from smoking weed, my nan was a chain (cigarette) smoker for years but celebrated her 91st birthday last week and has never had lung issues. On the other hand some people will come to a pretty nasty demise.

I can understand the argument for legalising it like, but I wouldn't vote for it to be.

I read recently that the amount of tar from weed compared to cigarette isn't as much as people thought. It does contain more, but nowhere near the amounts originally reported.

Also, there has been no suggestions that weed contributes to lung cancer. "We hypothesized that there would be a positive association between marijuana use and lung cancer, and that the association would be more positive with heavier use. What we found instead was no association at all, and even a suggestion of some protective effect."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729.html

I understand that everybody is different, especially how people react to things. But the point remains, taxing reasons aside, how can alcohol be legal and weed illegal? It's a gateway to other drugs? Isn't alcohol a gateway to smoking?

 

[Jags..class]

Not for me. The countries that have legalised it may be working now, but there could be repercussions further down the line. Weed contains twice as much tar as its equivalent weight in tobacco and could increase your chances of developing schizophrenia up to 6x depending on your genetics. It may not directly cause deaths in terms of overdosing, but it can still contribute to developing cancer as well as mental issues such as depression.

The cancer curing aspect is redundant in this instance as well IMO. There is an ingredient in weed (not the hallucagen) that is shown to reduce tumour size in lab mice. This means that this ingredient would need to be isolated and sold as medicine rather than rolling a joint, baring in mind these studies are probably still years off human testing.

Of course, everyone is different and some people may suffer little to none long term effects from smoking weed, my nan was a chain (cigarette) smoker for years but celebrated her 91st birthday last week and has never had lung issues. On the other hand some people will come to a pretty nasty demise.

I can understand the argument for legalising it like, but I wouldn't vote for it to be.

But drinking can cause issue with their bodies as well. Adults should be able to make their own decision, drinking has been behind so many murders and attacks. Hospital full of drunks every weekend where smokers are in kfc

 

[USABlue]

I'm all for letting people do whatever "floats their boat for the most part" Just get bothered by all the nonsense sprouted off about how great is as a medicine, you can't OD, its natural and healthy, etc. Smoking anything will damage your lungs and increase risk for lung cancer no matter what it is you're smoking, it helps with the nausea from chemo true, and as someone mentioned theres links to the oil working on tumors but it doesn't "Treat cancer" as some like to say. If people want to legalize it, tax it and regulate it like cigarettes I can see the argument but its not this "wonderful medical drug" some pro-leaglizers bang on about haha I know tons of people personally who go on about the medicial qualitys, etc who just smoke for the hell of it haha. just be up front about it

 

[Titus Bramble]

I read recently that the amount of tar from weed compared to cigarette isn't as much as people thought. It does contain more, but nowhere near the amounts originally reported.

Also, there has been no suggestions that weed contributes to lung cancer. "We hypothesized that there would be a positive association between marijuana use and lung cancer, and that the association would be more positive with heavier use. What we found instead was no association at all, and even a suggestion of some protective effect."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729.html

I understand that everybody is different, especially how people react to things. But the point remains, taxing reasons aside, how can alcohol be legal and weed illegal? It's a gateway to other drugs? Isn't alcohol a gateway to smoking?

Where did you read that mate? You might be right and I might be wrong. I think a big issue with weed is that there hasn't been enough research into it to know exactly what it does to you (and being a scientist I love reading up on stuff like this so if you could link that would be sound )

@Jags..class like I said, I can understand the 'legalise it' stance. Just like alcohol, I'm sure weed would cause very few issues if enjoyed in moderation... Unfortunately there are plenty of people who don't enjoy things in moderation. I'm sure a very big reason that alcohol, and cigarettes for that matter, is still legal is due to tax income and the very rich and therefore powerful tobacco/alcohol companies throwing their weight around.

Edit: @LocalNative just noticed the link you posted, will have a read of it when I get a chance!