Should marijuana be made legal?

[delude]

I totally hear you, but maybe my situation is one on the more extreem end, where one particular friend spends so much of his time with weed that he doesn't respect my views or guidance when it is clear he is going nowhere. I did feel sorry for him but am past that stage as there has been plenty of support for him but he is even ignoring his own family now, turning them away to just smoke more weed.

I know my mates all too well and just think it is pathetic how some of them just follow the next guy, when it can be so blatantly obvious that they do what they do to fit in. I do respect what people do, but when it comes to the point that I am patronised or some special rule needs to be made for me because I don't want to be involved with what they do, I've had enough.

I'm also aware of the issues you can face when trying to get into the States for example, any minor drug offence will see that you are turned away. Maybe I just aim a lot higher than my friends but I take an awful lot in from life, and always try to think about the future.

[delude]

Apologies for my lack of writing skills and spelling etc above, on my iPod Touch

[barcelonic]

Originally Posted by delude

I totally hear you, but maybe my situation is one on the more extreem end, where one particular friend spends so much of his time with weed that he doesn't respect my views or guidance when it is clear he is going nowhere. I did feel sorry for him but am past that stage as there has been plenty of support for him but he is even ignoring his own family now, turning them away to just smoke more weed.

Some may smoke more than others, but you need to remember its just weed - there's no need for an intervention, they are not a junkie just a pothead and there is a big difference.

To be frank, the worst possible thing you can do is to try to talk them out of it. Unfortunately all you can do is sit by and let them smoke themselves into a haze, regardless of how you feel about it. If you treat them as though they need help, they will resent you for it and your problems will worsen.

I know my mates all too well and just think it is pathetic how some of them just follow the next guy, when it can be so blatantly obvious that they do what they do to fit in. I do respect what people do, but when it comes to the point that I am patronised or some special rule needs to be made for me because I don't want to be involved with what they do, I've had enough.

Im irritated by people with no confidence in themselves so I admire you for not caving in to peer pressure. If your friends start to disrespect you it is because A) you have been trying to talk them out of smoking and so they may treat you like you are naive or think weed is worse than it is (as i said above), in which case just ease off them about it because you may be making them feel like a junkie/criminal (which is hard to take regardless of how they feel about the ethics/law behind smoking pot), or B) if they are disrespecting you for the sole reason that you do not smoke weed yourself, then perhaps they are not the friend you thought they were.

Only with B would i consider distancing myself from that friend.

I'm also aware of the issues you can face when trying to get into the States for example, any minor drug offence will see that you are turned away. Maybe I just aim a lot higher than my friends but I take an awful lot in from life, and always try to think about the future.

You are absolutely right, and tbh I forgot about that. If you aim high than that's great! So instead take solace in the fact that you will never recieve such a conviction simply for being with pot smokers when they are caught.

Remember... if your friends are disrespecting you or belittling you and you feel it is because you are the odd one out for not smoking pot, then they seem like a selfish person and maybe not as good a friend as you think. We all want to fit in with others, but to do so at other people's expense is a very selfish and insecure thing to do, and in my experience people who are like that remain like that forever. It is intrinsic.

[Schism]

Originally Posted by delude

Don't get me wrong, he has clearly proved that he has issues (although he wont admit it) but the cannabis didn't help. I've given up now though, he used to be alright but I just think it is pathetic that these sort of people that become so reliant on it do nothing else, every day is the same: roll a joint, sit down, smoke it, roll another, smoke it, walk to buy some more weed, roll another.....etc.

you can't really call it pathetic to be honest mate, it's just a viscous cycle that they can't get out of. I'd rather my mate be hooked on weed than being drunk all the time to be honest... you may have a messed up head in the end, but at least you're not gonna die early from liver damage etc.

(My point being that being addicted to alcohol is probably worse).

Or, even being addicted to caffeine! Have you seen how cranky people can get when they haven't had their cup of coffee?

Btw, I do know someone that is 30 and has been hooked since about 15... and I also know someone that has been an alcoholic for a few years, and I know which one is worse off.

[delude]

Need to spread the rep Barcelonic

And Schism, in this case I really can. I gave up to be honest when I realised every time I went out with this person I ended up spending money on food for him and lending him money to get places etc. When he has the choice to get out there And do something with his life, or simply shape what he does around around weed every spare minute (I mean literally) I'm stepping out.

Anyways, your poss are very informative Bqrcelonic and also reassuring, thanks

[barcelonic]

Originally Posted by delude

Need to spread the rep Barcelonic

And Schism, in this case I really can. I gave up to be honest when I realised every time I went out with this person I ended up spending money on food for him and lending him money to get places etc. When he has the choice to get out there And do something with his life, or simply shape what he does around around weed every spare minute (I mean literally) I'm stepping out.

Anyways, your poss are very informative Bqrcelonic and also reassuring, thanks

Any time. If there's one thing i know about its drugs. Im one of the few ppl who has gone through all the stages and come out virtually unscathed. The only mainstream drugs I havent tried are heroin and crack cocaine (and obviously with good reason). I've also smoked weed most my life. So if you ever need more reassurance im here.

Im not gonna lie and tell you I know what its like to be in your shoes, but I know exactly what it's like to be in your friends' shoes and what's more, I have the benefit of hindsight.

[NicoSauv]

I think comsumption of cannabis should be decriminalised and made legal, this way the government would not waste money on reinforcing against it.

An age limit could be introduced which would quickly induce control of consumption. Fines and punishments should be no more or no less than those of consumption of alcohol.

[Amiethest]

If cannabis is illegal why isn't smoking? Costs the NHS a hell of a lot more cash!

[Schism]

Originally Posted by Amiethest

If cannabis is illegal why isn't smoking? Costs the NHS a hell of a lot more cash!

Because Weed is too widely grown, and would be hard to place a tax on it.

[garry k]

should be made legal, it isnt a dangerous drug, nobody has ever died from smoking it. salvia on the other hand is alot more dangerous and can cause some mad long term effects yet its legal, i just dont understand

[barcelonic]

Originally Posted by Schism

Because Weed is too widely grown, and would be hard to place a tax on it.

interestingly, i read recently that the UK currently produces more marijuana than Amsterdam

Originally Posted by garry k

salvia on the other hand is alot more dangerous and can cause some mad long term effects yet its legal, i just dont understand

huh? can i ask for your source on that one cus i dont believe that for a second.

[corky20]

The problem is if marijuana is made legal everyone would be smoking it... well maybe not everyone but I would definately be down to the local shop to get some.

Legalising marijuana would really not help things as far as the government is concerned, they frown on anything like that so there is no chance it will ever happen. I mean they would make smoking and alcohol illeagal if they could but the problem is doing that would cause more problems that it's worth. Imagine the backlash if they even considered doing such a thing!

[Schism]

Originally Posted by corky20

The problem is if marijuana is made legal everyone would be smoking it... well maybe not everyone but I would definately be down to the local shop to get some.

Yeah, that's a point why I think it shouldn't be made legal for me.

Originally Posted by barcelonic

interestingly, i read recently that the UK currently produces more marijuana than Amsterdam

Exactly, but not everyone can grow tobacco.

[barcelonic]

Originally Posted by corky20

The problem is if marijuana is made legal everyone would be smoking it... well maybe not everyone but I would definately be down to the local shop to get some.

Thats a common misconception. You only need to look at Holland to see that simply wouldnt happen. And I have never met anyone in my life who wanted to smoke weed but didnt because it was illegal.

If it was legalised it wouldnt make an ounce of difference to the numbers of ppl smoking it. People often say this about heroin as well but its simply not true.

People who dont want to smoke marijuana usually feel it would make them lazy and/or apathetic and dont want that affecting them because of their careers/responsibilities. They wouldnt just go out and but some if it was legal. If they wanted it they'd buy it now.

Originally Posted by corky20

I mean they would make smoking and alcohol illeagal if they could but the problem is doing that would cause more problems that it's worth. Imagine the backlash if they even considered doing such a thing!

I agree that if the government wanted to ban them it would be very difficult due to backlash. However, i assure you they don't want to. And neither does any other government in the world.

Also you need to remember that it is a fact that prohibition of any drug doesnt work and never has. This applies all over the world. Prohibition simply passes the production and distribution of the drug to the black market, where it is irresponsibly cut and manufactured in unsanitary conditions with harmful substances. That in turn leads to deaths, addictions and an enormous increase in crime and perpetual poverty.

Originally Posted by Schism

Exactly, but not everyone can grow tobacco.

Why not?

[bentley]

Originally Posted by harvez

now when I say legal I mean still restricted by licensed premises such as in Amsterdam.

Pro.

1. The taxes collected.
2. Putting a dent in the drug lords pocket.
3. Releasing a ton of space in our overcrowded prisons.
4. Less monies and time spent in our courts to convict.
5. Medical reasons.

Con

1. Regulating, making sure it's not laced with something more dangerous.
2. It's still "smoke" in ones lungs!
3. Smoking around children or others who don't wish to be high or,shouldn't be.
4. Age restrictions. How old?
5. Releasing prisoners who know no other way of life.
6. Having people walking around in an altered state with munchies!

There are tons of other pros and cons. JMO.

May I remind everyone this is a debating section, if you have nothing but stupid childish comments to make find another thread.

We must first ask what impact would legal hemp sales have on other, established products? We would presume the amount of users would rise with the drugs status being changed. Smokers tend not to be drinkers so what would happen to the brewers if there was more widespread use of cannabinoids? There are also bi-products of hemp production, fuels, hemp fibre to mention a couple. The lubricant and possible 'alternative' fuels made from Cannabis plants are bound to have direct effect on the oil companies. The fibre production an effect on the textile industries. The law makers in this country are wealthy people whom at some point will have at least one chubby finger in at least one of the lucrative pies previously mentioned and why would they want to give that action up? Laws are supposed to be for the good of society and protect the common man to carry on in his day to day life in a manor deemed to be acceptable by the masses. This country has one of the highest rates of adult cannabis consumption in the world. We have a higher percentage of adult 'smokers' than the Netherlands. I would say that made smoking weed 'accepted' by the general populous as normal behaviour, and it is not good for society to criminalise a large proportion of otherwise 'law abiding' people.

Don't be fooled by the supposed medical debate. If laws were made for the good of our health, Cigarettes and Alcohol would have been banned years ago. The truth is, nobody knows what the truth is. As like with so many illegal drugs not enough research has been done to know what effects THC has on people. The statements given by Medical spokesmen are assumed precautionary measures from preliminary studies.

Why is it as a nation we feel the Government best to tell us what we should do? There are pros and cons for everything in life. As adults we should be able to make informed choices as to our own lifestyle choices. As with the millions spent on leaflets to tell us what to do on hot days. It has rained ever since. Oh, and we have had hot days before the recent good weather. As with the recent terrorism alertness, promoted by the Government. They raise an air of suspicion between people, sneaking in new powers to curtail human rights. Did the UK not suffer far more terrorism in the decades prior. Two terrorist attacks on the cabinet alone. Not to mention countless bombs, killing and maiming the public. Peace has been restored to Northern Ireland, and it was done without 90 days of detainment, CCTV everywhere and wide scale infringement of human rights. But, Big Brother is hungry for more control, not less. And, these are some of the reasons why weed will remain illegal.

[predator420]

Yeah marijuana should be legal, it practically is..anyways i mean i california i think the law is that you can possess less than an eigth and not be punished.\

[Schism]

Originally Posted by barcelonic

Why not?

Well there must be a reason why people don't grow it.

[barcelonic]

Originally Posted by predator420

Yeah marijuana should be legal, it practically is..anyways i mean i california i think the law is that you can possess less than an eigth and not be punished.\

u still get punished with a fine just not custodial sentence or probation.

and i think its something like 10 grams but im not sure about that bit. either way tho its in grams not oz because of the metric system over there.

california is one of 11 states which offer legal medicinal marijuana, although i think california is one of the few that supply it as actual bud and not marinol

[rollingsta]

I've been smoking weed for a very long time.... 25 - 12 = 13 years.
I am not crazy
I never get the flu/cold etc
I work
I am not a psycho or have any affects of psychosism.
I have been smoking the stronger stuff as it comes out. (at the minute some real luton cheese)
I did quit twice but i started getting pains again.

I love smoking it, so much better than cigs
It also maks me more imaginative and come up with some good ****.

Also I can play poker like a pro when i'm high.

Legalise it??? NO
Why? Bcoz i want to go to amsterdam to feel the buzz of legalized ****. and this is uk they will probably charge £110 for a gram lol

[xp79]

theres evidence to prove that if canabis was never ilegalized then the strength of strains would of stoped increasing and canabis would be fairly harmless.

Further more,
Canabis has no confirmed deaths and is (To this day) healther than smoking tobacco,

its everywhere with 1/4 people admitted trying it in the united kingdom meaning even if it was legalized the useage would not increase,
If someone wanted to do it that bad its easy enough to get a hold of.