Cannabis should not be decriminalised - AIBU?

no, but marijana use yes

everyones at it! even the police don't care, they've got bigger crimes to sort than someone having themselves a very very relaxed evening

The same questions can be applied to all the alcohol and shitty food consumed, as evidenced by obesity rates. The state also needs to step in to deal with the consequences of these issues and no one is criminalised for buying takeaway nightly.

Plenty of things are difficult to police. So we should give up then? Little bit worrying don't you think. Fraud? Ah never mind. Car crime ... Too tricky does matter.

Eh, drugs need to be decriminalised and dealt with appropriately.

Who cares about the smell of week when coke and ket are so prolific and normalised in pubs across the country?

Absolutely agree that it shouldn’t be legalised for all the reasons you posted. I cannot bear the stench and it is far stronger and longer lasting than tobacco. I’ve been to American cities that I’ve had to leave as it is so widespread. It seems to have become socially acceptable during the day in a way that alcohol is not and the smell coming out of many commercial vans as they drive is seriously concerning. It really messes with some people’s brains. Also agree with PPs saying that tobacco should be illegal and, as buying cigarettes is going to become so, it seems odd to suggest moving the other way on cannabis.

You hate the smell. That doesn’t mean you can order people not to smoke it around you.

people who smoke week do so regardless of the legal aspect. It would only mean a minimally larger amount of people would smoke.
in your opinion, it is a gateway drug. You could say the same about any lesser drug. People generally make these decisions away from a gateway aspect. For example, if they are going to take drugs then they are going to take drugs. Yes they have to start somewhere but they will just start a level up if cannabis isn’t available. Legal or not doesn’t change this.
it can help and worsen mental health. Because mental health is a coverall and can affect people very differently. Your blanket statement suggests you’ve missed the point or don’t understand.
driving is a big issue but it won’t be changed if made legal.
yes you are unreasonable.

just like we can't police someone smoking etc, this is impossible to police so should be decriminalised

lots of peoples choices aren't what we'd choose but that's free will

the state, being the NHS?, has to step in for a lot of life choices tbh, made by everyone in society. that's why it was paid for by everyone in society.

You can. It’s perfectly legal in the UK for medical reasons, on private prescription

It would be a medical issue whether or not it was legal. I’d say it was probably better to allow it to be a medical issue without the finger wagging. Isn’t it preferable to have people get well than not?

Legalize it. I would love to be able to buy it legally as I think it would help my arthritis pain.

The problem is it's not just their business if they smoke it. A very individualistic way of thinking.

The if they develop mental health issues or lung cancer as a result it's 'all our business' and the state which needs to step in. If they've got kids and it creates families issues who steps in?

I'm sure plenty of people smoke it and it's harmless but there's plenty for who is does great damage and it no longer 'just their business.'

Technically actually using drugs is not a crime. Possessing them is.

Anyway, other countries manage fine. Cannabis is not worth the angst. What is are the systems like county lines which are ruining lives.

I agree OP. It stinks. I know of several teens who have fucked their brains with weed and ruined their lives. I’m talking psychosis and schizophrenia

i would rather my kids took cocaine

Bodily autonomy only gets used on here when it suits.
Seems to be forgotten about when posters mention making an informed choice not to attend mammograms or smear tests.

Given that ketamine can make you incontinent or suppress your breathing I would say this is a far greater concern

It should be legalised. Regulate, tax it, take it out the hands of criminals.
Whether or not you like the smell is irrelevant.

ketamine is the teenage drug nowadays

Tell Reece Galbraiths neighbours that

No it shouldn't be legalised. Couldn't agree more. It messes with people's mental health and can cause psychosis and long term issues and dependency. Tragic for those involved and their families. If you know anyone who works in a mental health setting you will be aware of this

Legalising it won't stop the incorrect use of stop and search this is more of an issue of racism. Legalising cannabis won't stop racism.

Falling tax revenues from smoking (good thing) and people drinking less are better for us as a nation and our health. We should find other ways to fund our public services.

County lines will just find other sources of income perhaps even harder drugs, this is just economics. It won't stop county lines.

Philosophically I find it troubling ... If there was lots of another type of crime should we morally as a society just accept this? And say ah well never mind everyone does it. Worrying line of thinking.

Legalising cannabis won't solve these issues sorry.

I have met two people with cannabis psychosis. Both very young, isolated, and left to it by parents who would have probably stepped in if it were alcohol.

Both recovered. They had other addiction problems later. Both had awful, neglectful parents

I think it should be legalised and taxed. The country needs money. There's one way sorted.

Is rather run into someone stoned than a drunk person. Cannabis does not cause you to act erratically when high. Personal experience says it turns you into human mush or a giggling idiot.

Also, it being a gateway drug....I don't agree with this. I think alcohol is usually the first substance that ost people try. For me it was booze then coke and then pot.

I like others have said have grown out of it, including alcohol.

Yes of course it should be decriminalised. For a brief time in the 2000s it was effectively downgraded to class C and there was no enforcement. Society did not fall apart.

Some people do develop problems with it, staying at home consuming it all day. That is not healthy, in the same way drinking all day is not healthy either. But this is a medical issue, not something that needs the resources of the police and criminal justice system to manage. I don’t know when the UK became so puritanical about this, but we could do with looking at our history in greater detail to see if cannabis makes your society fall apart.

Cannabis is everywhere, despite it being illegal. Legalising it would mean the income is taken away from criminal gangs, and into legal businesses, which are taxed. Legalisation does not mean greater use, but the destigmatisation can help provide support for users.

The "moving to harder drugs" issue is due to the need to purchase from dealers who offer other drugs - if it is purchased like alcohol then there would be no more risk than alcohol imo