Cannabis should not be decriminalised - AIBU?

Yanbu

I've taken many drugs and I didn't take the others because I smoked marijuana, I took them because I wanted to and I enjoyed getting high. My first intoxicant was alcohol and I suspect that's the same for nearly all drug users. Is alcohol a 'gateway' drug?

Let people do what they want to. Take it out of the hands of criminals and earn some tax on it. Prohibition has not worked.

I am with you OP. Not just the smell, it will still be sold largely under the counter, and I don't want any more drivers under the influence of drugs.

It will , I assure You
(Hug)

How did that work out last time?

I hate it too. Agree with you wholeheartedly.

Yes. Absolutely 100% for an alcohol ban.

1. I hate the way armpits smell, should we also ban them?
2. It's not a gateway drug
3. Some people it helps, others it hinders. I am prescribed it for my mental health and all of my Drs are very happy including my NHS GP.
4. People driving under the influence of anything is a real issue. Set real evidence based limits and enforce them regardless of the legality.
5. These are just based on my experience etc. You are entitled to your opinion but what good has criminalising people for using cannabis really done for society?

It triggers & exacerbates psychotic illness in susceptible individuals. Tobacco & alcohol don't do that.

Alcohol absolutely can.

It's very helpful infact for mental health and adhd. It enables me to check in with my emotions.

I'm on the fence.

I've seen the damage it does, especially to the developing minds of young men and how it can cause mental illness, psychosis etc.

Plus, it really does smell awful, like really REALLY nasty.

But, legalising it may help slow down and start to dismantle the county lines gangs and save countless children from exploitation. But it's not going to solve that entirely as there will still be people who will buy from dealers.

If they could make a version legally, that doesn't smell, with the THC levels controlled then that would be acceptable.

I'll hazard a guess that's wrong and that most drug addicts started with alcohol.

It'd be weird if a tee totaller went straight for cannabis to give them their first 'buzz'.

Serencwtch
It triggers & exacerbates psychotic illness in susceptible individuals. Tobacco & alcohol don't do that.

Now this is the first sensible argument I’ve heard on this thread, and there is certainly anecdotal evidence for that. However, it has been legal in many countries for years now so I would expect to see some evidence of increased psychosis in countries that have legalised cannabis. Is there any?

Alcohol kills. Cannabis doesn't

UhHuh. And 100% of people who die have tried Dihydrogen monoxide.

It triggers & exacerbates psychotic illness in susceptible individuals. Tobacco & alcohol don't do that.

Imagine all the teenage vapers switching to cannabis & the ticking bomb of psychotic illness in years to come.

I assume everyone who disagrees with the decriminalisation of cannabis also thinks alcohol should be banned?

Because alcohol is a far, far more harmful drug than cannabis is.

I listened to Lord Faulkner, who wrote the "independent" report for Kahn, on the radio this morning. His main point was that cannabis being illegal disproportionately affects the black community and is by far the biggest reason for stop and search i.e. "We smelled cannabis". Stop and search is unpopular to say the least.

Not sure why Kahn is spending Londoners taxes on this though. The law has nothing to do with him.

Absolutely is a gateway drug and totally fucks with your mind over the longer term ime.

I know several people who have been users for many years (2 x cousins, a bloke in work, 2 x friends). Without exception their MH is all totally fucked and/or they've dabbled in harder drugs over the years.

I never understand the mentality of just being OK with drug use. How many people just have zero shame about it, especially on here, almost like it's something to be proud of. Oh I used to smoke joints all the time, woo, go me 😳. Totally mortifying and just sad tbph.

But lots of things are only available on prescription. It doesn’t mean they should all be freely available

$6.17 billion revenue in California since 2018. Where's your evidence to suggest it won't generate a huge tax revenue?
Suggest you do a little more research instead of parroting stereotypical myths.

Yip legalise and tax

I don't like it either but it's hard to argue for criminalising cannabis and not alcohol when they have comparable ill-effects on health and civility.

Legalise it, heavily tax it, and have strict rules with it about where it can be smoked due to the awful pungent smell, not to mention very strict rules about driving under the influence too!