to think that most on here have tried class B or A drugs at some point in their lives?

[apologies]

I'm increasingly struggling with the wisdom of prohibiting drugs and this is increased by a suspicion that far more people have taken or take drugs than are ever willing to admit it. I am thus curious as to MNetters experiences.

I love cannabis.

I HATE illegal (I know it all is) hybrid strong skunk.

I'd rather have the odd spliff than a drink.

I don't GET why I would be a criminal for responsibly growing my own cannabis and smoking it responsibly when others are legally getting hammered on cheap booze and beating the shit out of each other.

I don't get that I would be a criminal for being as responsible as my neighbour is with wine yet she's considered responsible and I'd be considered a hippy druggie.

Responsible use of either... carries risk, but a minimal risk. (I know as many people who should even drink a little as i do those who shouldn't smoke weed at all) but should be allowed.

Irresponsible use of either should carry tough penalty. Brew spirits that are rocket fuel... get punished. Breed plants that are stupidly strong... get punished. Sell beer you're brewed without licence, get punished. Sell weed you've grown without licence, get punished.

Grown your own, brew your own, be sensible... be free to do it.

Protect children, clamp down on underage drinking. I'm all for that.

I don't get why alcohol is legal even irresponsibly, yet cannabis isn't.

I don't get the argument regarding risk either, and I have a brother who's fucked himself with cannabis and other drugs (including the perfectly legal alcohol - made no difference to him what was allowed and what wasn't).

For the love of pete let me have a spliff ocassionally, legally, without fear of becoming a criminal. Just like another person enjoys a fine wine.

Aldo your post reminds me of that song by The Streets

'my names Terry and I'm a law abider....'

Meh.

Just grumpy.

Mostly grumpy because I AM a law abider but would bloody love a spliff.

And have to settle for overpriced shite wine or cheap as chips shite homebrew.

Gimme a cup of tea and a small, weak, homegrown spliff and I'll be happy.

I shall google that track right now and adjust my offence accordingly.

You will like it.

It's about terry who prizes himself on being legal but is a pisshead and beats people...

And a student (can't remember name) who is very capable, very well but enjoys the odd spliff

"How on earth would you know?"

Erm, because we discuss it. I know my work colleagues haven't ever indulged. They were quite shocked to find out that I had tried smoking a spliff once. My mum friends haven't either - because we discussed it. The only person I know who indulges in illegal drugs is my cousin. He also suffers from depression, and the rest of the family blame the wacky baccy that he regularly smokes.

I've never taken any kind of drugs and never smoked a cigarette either.

Really? I am surprised. I wouldn't have thought it was the sort of thing most people were that comfortable discussing except those who think that drugs are the work of the devil. It's not information I would volunteer, especially in a work setting.

Like Bunbaker and others up-thread I have never been offered illegal drugs of any description, or socialised with people who either openly take them or have ever admitted to taking them in private. And I wouldn't regard myself as stupid or oblivious to nuances or "suspicious" behaviour. It just isn't my experience that this is a common thing - I wouldn't even know where to start trying to get hold of any. I could count on one hand my family/friends/acquaintances who smoke cigarettes.

Must have lived a sheltered life I guess! Can't say I have any interest in changing.

I have tried most drugs, stuck with none really. it is funny about the claims-making of most drugs and the opinions of drug takers. I sit on an evening and take amatripline, codeine, paracetamol, diclaphenik and many more I have prescriptions for each one, however mr a down the street takes codeine. mr a down the street is not trusted because he is a druggy and the difference is mr a gets his codeine from mr ~B. its all how we look upon.

I know many people professional educational people who go home and have a spliff to calm down, or a little code/speed on a weekend. this situation is hushed up because these people have jobs and add to society.

I try not judge i do not take iligle drugs or drugs for a high all mine have for medical situations others do it for fun.

"I wouldn't have thought it was the sort of thing most people were that comfortable discussing except those who think that drugs are the work of the devil. It's not information I would volunteer, especially in a work setting."

I get on extremely well with my workmates and we can talk about justabout anything without feeling uncomfortable. I am talking about my peers BTW, not my boss.

I know in places I have worked people might not be honest about drug use. But I think its different amongst friends.

I love skunk, I smoke every day for the medicinal benefits It shouldn't even be classified as a drug.

I have previously enjoyed mushrooms, lsd and ecstasy.
I have tried cocaine and amphetamine too.

Another no, never tried them. Having witnessed my parents high on various things (they were both addicted to multiple things -- and I know people say you can't become addicted to pot, but I think you can get addicted to pretty much anything) it never appealed and I'm too paranoid about addiction. Never a better anti-drug message than really screwed up parents (sadly my two siblings didn't get the message and ended up needing alcohol and drug addiction help before they were of legal age to drink).

On a legal level...I'm not sure. I guess morally I have no problem with pot. The main moral problem, for me, is that many of the drugs are destroying many parts of the countries they come from and I'm not sure how legalising would make it better. Not unless there was some enforced measures put in place on the production side of things. And we can't even get the human rights issues around chocolate and gold right so I doubt it would be a priority. We'd also need a lot better care for addicts and their family members.

I've never smoked
I've never been drunk but I don't drink (not TT but maybe one a year )
I've never tried any drugs
I'm a vegetarian of 31 years
I've been with my DH for 26 years

My DCs will be the most rebellious children ever

Oh aldi. You post made me really crave a nice weak spliff and a cup of tea!
It is skunk that is the very devil, not lovely homegrown herb

Agree skunk the work of the devil and bears no relation to late 80s early 90s cannabis that was pure heaven

I worked in a well known holiday camp in my early 20's. Drugs were rife. I've took hash, E's and speed. Tried Cocaine but it was shit. I stopped no problem at all when I'd had enough and grew up. This was about 10 yrs ago and at that time I only knew a couple of people that didn't take anything.

I've never tried anything, nor has DH. DD (18) hasnt ever tried anything either and says she only knows one other friend who hasnt .

No - my mum told me as a teenager that I would most definitely die if I ever even tried them so if I was ready to die then fine, go ahead. I am glad she did put it that way. It scared and prevented me from experimenting when I was at a vulnerable age and as an adult and more capable of making my own judgements I was able to weigh up the risks and decided against it for myself.

I'd say prohibition isn't really working. Drugs are a public health not a criminal issue. I would support decriminalisation.

I don't see a problem with people taking chemicals to feel better. You could make it quite safe for people to do this stuff. I don't understand the moral, ethical problems with it. Why us it different to alcohol?

Sorry that sounds flippant - the current situation isn't working, people can still get drugs if they want to and the proceeds fund other crime. I think if the state controlled these substances, if they were regulated and some were sold it means the tax payer, not criminals are benefitting.

Cannabis was no different in the 80's ladies. Its been the same plant the whole time, if you were smoking hash, then that has more THC typically than even the strongest strains off skunk.

Cannabis has been hybridised a lot, the whole skunk is evil smear is bad propaganda.

It is actually helping people with serious illnesses around the world without need for prescription medicines, hence the smears in the media.

Never touched a class A or B drug and have absolutely no intention of it. Tried a couple of puffs of grass when I was a smoker years ago, but it did nothing for me. Since I had kids, I tell (not ask) people that if they want to smoke a spliff, they can do it ouside the garden gate. Having drugs in my house is something I won't tolerate at all and won't compromise on now I have kids.

Viva- unfortunately some of us don't need media propaganda to tell us how dangerous skunk is. We only have to look around our own circle and in the area that we live.

Some of us know dealers/growers, what is being produced is very different.