relaxed cannabis guidelines

Discussion in 'Serious' started by craigey1, 12 Sep 2003.

  1. RTT

    RTT #parp

    Joined:
    12 Mar 2001
    Posts:
    14,120
    Likes Received:
    74
    Let me first of all state that I don't like cigarette smoke, and i'm not a smoker.

    however - to those who say it should be banned in public places and who have openly ranted in this thread, I take it you don't mind breathing in the petrol and diesel fumes from cars and busses, which are equally if not worse than ciggy smoke?

    I just find it sort of ironic...

    i agree it should be banned in pubs, bars and restaraunts, but banning smoking in streets is OTT!
     
  2. Sid

    Sid Banned

    Joined:
    13 Mar 2002
    Posts:
    1,413
    Likes Received:
    0
    I think all drugs should be legalised. I was writing an essay about it for a school thing actually, might as well copy and paste:

    According to Home Office figures, two out of five sixteen year olds have tried drugs. This figure is not declining - exactly the opposite. Obviously, making the problem a legal issue is not the answer.

    To solve the problems behind drug use, one must address the real issues which cause people to resort to drugs in the first place, such as poverty and despair. People must accept that drug use is normal and that criminalising millions of otherwise law-abiding people is not a solution. If you send a drug user to prison for six months, perhaps their physical addiction will be removed, however when the individual leaves prison it is likely that they will turn back to drugs for the same social reasons that caused them to turn to drugs initially. Intensifying drug laws is not reducing demand. In Holland where cannabis laws are less harsh drug usage is amongst the lowest in Europe.

    A major reason to legalise would be to eliminate the criminal market place. Legalisation would starve illegal drugs dealers of any profit and they would be wiped out almost overnight. This would greatly help to reduce other drugs related crime such as theft. Using illegal drugs is extremely expensive, leaving many dependant users being forced to steal to raise funds. Stealing for drugs money accounts for nearly fifty percent of UK property crime, estimated at two billion pounds per year. Legalisation would greatly reduce the price of drugs and help to solve the theft problems. Cigarette smokers do not have to steal to support their habits because of the low price.

    Another reason to legalise would be to give the public better access to more truthful information. Presently, a massive amount of disinformation is given to use by ignorant policy makers and the media who create myths for their own ends. If drugs were to be made legal, more honest and truthful information could be offered to help people make their decision about whether and how to use. It would make general drug use safer because people would know the safest ways to use the drug and also because clean needles would be much more accessible. Countries with ultra-prohibitionist policies have very high rates of HIV infection amongst injecting users, and in the UK hepatitis C rates are rising.

    Legalisation would enable the market to be controlled and regulated. Prohibition leaves this responsibility in the hands of corrupt drug dealers who are often violent. It would allow the government to control things such as prescriptions, licensing, laws on sales to minors, advertising etc. It would also allow the government to tax the drugs thus creating billions of pounds worth of profit and tax revenue.


    About smoking in public, I don't really care. I do it myself occasionally. Most restaurants have smoking and non-smoking areas these days so everyone's happy. As for pubs+clubs, it's kinda expected when you go there, not really much you can do. Pubs have always been smokey places. People go out for a drink, and in half cases, a smoke.
     
  3. Alaric

    Alaric code assassin

    Joined:
    3 Nov 2001
    Posts:
    2,881
    Likes Received:
    0
    oh, but I do mind! I sincerely wish that the public transport system in this country was actually feasible to use. The trains here in the south east are just rubbish. The fast line between cambridge and london is fine, but if it had trains every 15mins not 30mins and was cheaper it'd be even better.
    I don't drive atm, don't have a license. I'm also pissed at the USA for not signing the kyoto agreement, they'll wake up to the reality just about at the point it's too late.
    Sure the world prolly won't be destroyed and choke to death in my lifetime, but the next generation will have real problems.
    I also don't like fossil fuel burning power stations, buses, plants etc.

    When you're up in the mountains in scotland or somewhere it really does demonstrate how poor the air quality in cities is. Everyone has different expectations these days in quality of service etc of public transport from 50 years ago. We're used to our comfortable automotive cocoons. Public transport needs to mature A LOT, but I hope it happens. Soon.

    Alaric.
    btw: RTT, remember you don't just walk on streets from place to place, you could be waiting for a bus/taxi/entrance to a show/just sitting on a park bench. The principle is that you shouldn't have to just put up with it. People can kill themselves if they like, just I'd rather not have to be brought down too. There needs to be some balance, and smoking in certain areas may bring down the amount of smoking related litter (the biggest litter cause in the uk i believe)
     
  4. Sid

    Sid Banned

    Joined:
    13 Mar 2002
    Posts:
    1,413
    Likes Received:
    0
    Public transport in Glasgow is top-notch, in my opinion. I love it :D I don't ever really consider buying a car when I'm 17. Even when I'm working and have plenty of money to afford a car...I'd still just stick to public transport. Or maybe just a car for long country drives. Beginning to go off-topic here though :)
     
  5. Johnny Napalm

    Johnny Napalm What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    25 Jul 2003
    Posts:
    131
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yeah lay off the skunk, Sid ;)
     
  6. JADS

    JADS Et arma et verba vulnerant

    Joined:
    27 Mar 2001
    Posts:
    2,918
    Likes Received:
    1
    That is a class A drug.
     
  7. Sid

    Sid Banned

    Joined:
    13 Mar 2002
    Posts:
    1,413
    Likes Received:
    0
    Never touched the stuff in my life, mate.

    Class A? It's Class B soon to be C, I think.
     
  8. Ubermich

    Ubermich He did it!

    Joined:
    21 Jun 2002
    Posts:
    4,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    HALT
    Smoking marijuana effects the user. Murder effects a second party. HUGE difference.
    Are you going to try to pass legislation that makes it illegal to commit suicide? Then why does the speed at which soemone does it matter?
     
  9. Ubermich

    Ubermich He did it!

    Joined:
    21 Jun 2002
    Posts:
    4,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Let me clarify that one doesn't put others in direct unavoidable danger while the other does.
     
  10. Stew

    Stew Disgruntled Postal Worker

    Joined:
    6 Mar 2002
    Posts:
    1,771
    Likes Received:
    0
    Nope.
     
  11. penski

    penski BodMod

    Joined:
    29 Aug 2002
    Posts:
    8,159
    Likes Received:
    2
    I concur with the little stoner...

    *n

    Green > Brown
    tobacco = bad
     
  12. acrimonious

    acrimonious Custom User Title:

    Joined:
    8 Nov 2002
    Posts:
    4,060
    Likes Received:
    3
    I'm sorry but to compare cannabis to 'suicide' is simply unreasonable, it has been proven time and time again that it has no major ill effects to your health.

    Chocolate changes your brain chemistry, simulating the release of endorphins. Caffine does, blocking receptors stimulating the stress hormones. Is this 'suicide' too!?
     
  13. JADS

    JADS Et arma et verba vulnerant

    Joined:
    27 Mar 2001
    Posts:
    2,918
    Likes Received:
    1
    How the heck do you even begin to rationalise that? Passive smoking puts people in danger. It is unreasonable that all non smokers should have to go and find a different place to be when smokers feel like they need to light up.

    It is your ****ing addiction, it is your ****ing problem, it is your ****ing weakness not mine so don't force it on me.


    Apart from the fact it is 20x more likely to give you lung cancer than a cigarette? Or the fact it can lead to depression?
     
  14. Hwulex

    Hwulex What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    1 Feb 2002
    Posts:
    4,007
    Likes Received:
    1
    Too bloody right!


    I think banning smoking in public entirely, whilst I like the idea, isn't going to happen. But I agree with what the non-smokers have said so far. What gives you the right to stand next to me at the bus-stop and slowly kill me off? I should be equally at right to stand there and punch you in the head occasionally.

    Britain does seem to be slowly favouring the non-smoker though ('bout bloody time). All mainline stations are non-smoking areas, and most major shopping centres are too. Virgin don't even have a smoking carriage on the train anymore.

    Yeah, not quite!
    Designated smoking areas in restaurants (or pubs, whatever) are completely useless. Unless you somehow encase the entire area in a glass bubble, what good does it actually do? None. All the smoke still spreads around the whole of the restaurant anyway. Ok, it might not be as direct as having someone smoking on the table right next to you, but the eventual effect is exactly the same. I believe it's for this reason that Pizza Hut recently made ALL of their establishments completely non-smoking places. A respected move.

    As for going to a bar/club and 'expecting' it to be smokey, I don't think that should have to be the case. If I find myself in such a place, I will promptly leave, because it ruins the experience for me, and the vast amounts of smoke in the air actually makes me feel ill.
    And also, the STINK of it on your clothes. It's just horrible. "Gawd, you stink like a bombfire". No, I don't. I smell like the inside of some bastad's lungs. :grr:



    So, you (as an example), are sitting in a bar, on a set of seats, sucking away on your Marlboroughs. Vast amounts of the smoke are wafting over our seating area. But you're enjoying yourself right, having a smoke, so who cares?
    So, I turn round, take a swig of my pint. Swallow most of it, but decide to spit what's left in my mouth right into your face, and some of it goes in your mouth.

    What?
    That's disgusting?
    Oh really.

    What's the difference?

    We're both consuming things that will eventually kill us, and just both helping eachother die.
     
  15. acrimonious

    acrimonious Custom User Title:

    Joined:
    8 Nov 2002
    Posts:
    4,060
    Likes Received:
    3
    I'm afraid i've never heard evidence to support that in fact the last i heard research was being carried out into the positive effects of cannabis for cancer patients. Besides this, smoking is not the only way the drug is taken.

    ...as with all things, if the negative effects outweigh the positive effects stop using it.
     
  16. JADS

    JADS Et arma et verba vulnerant

    Joined:
    27 Mar 2001
    Posts:
    2,918
    Likes Received:
    1
    Why start using it in the first place? There is far too much dependance on drugs to fit in, to be cool, to have fun, etc... The truth is you don't need them at all, you would be perfectly happy
    without them and best of all you would be more healthy.

    I cannot do anything but detest stoners, they absolute scum when they are high.
     
  17. Darv

    Darv Bling!!

    Joined:
    12 Aug 2002
    Posts:
    1,692
    Likes Received:
    6
    I dont have a problem with people walking down the street smoking. I choose not to smoke but when you walk passed someone smoking I don't think it really makes much difference to your health, and the smell is gone in a few seconds.

    I think banning smoking on the streets is a bit unreasonable, although the amount of litter aorund would go down.
    But smoking in public places and indoors should be banned. As far as I know in Australia its banned in all public buildings (not sure though)
    This would be a good idea. And I think there should be anti-smokiing places outdoors in places like parks etc.


    About the weed making it legal for you to buy it off drug dealers isn't really a good idea. They'll start you off on weed and move it up to something like heroin.

    If there were places where you could buy it and smoke it indoors. like a pub for weed, then it would be great. They could control exactly what it is your smoking, how much (to an extent) of it you smoke, and best off no one else has to be affected by it.


    Drunk people are far worse than stoned people. Plenty of times drunk people have come up and started fights with me or just shouted abuse. But I've never had that problem wiht anyone who was stoned. There too busy being stoned to care about people walking past them.
     
  18. Stew

    Stew Disgruntled Postal Worker

    Joined:
    6 Mar 2002
    Posts:
    1,771
    Likes Received:
    0
    A very bizarre statement.. :confused:
     
  19. JADS

    JADS Et arma et verba vulnerant

    Joined:
    27 Mar 2001
    Posts:
    2,918
    Likes Received:
    1
    Why bizarre? People act like complete irrational idiots on weed, girls are sluts on alcohol and blokes are yobs. I detest both drinkers and stoners would be a fairer statement.
     
  20. NuTech

    NuTech Minimodder

    Joined:
    18 Mar 2002
    Posts:
    2,222
    Likes Received:
    96
    Have you ever seen someone high? (apart from on the TV etc)

    All you wanna do is sit down and relax. Dunno where you got the irrational idiot bit from.
     

Share This Page