To think that if you want to smoke cannabis, do it at home

[MeridianB]

I don't have a problem if people want to smoke ordinary cannabis in their own home, if it doesn't interfer with anyone else.

But lately I am smelling it almost every time I visit the (very nice, well-kept) local park, which means my child is, too.

Yesterday, there was a teenager smoking it down a very busy shopping street in London.

I know it's not treated as seriously as it once was but it's still illegal. I promise I'm not a pearl-clutcher. I just don't want to have a face/lung-full of this in the park!

Are these people using in public to prove a point or are they just idiots?

[Scaredycat3000]

Really? I have never tried that...do you want to share Scaredy?

It's just one of those comments from an ex-colleague when I worked nearby that stuck in my mind.

"And then bold as brass two blokes walk out of the bushes one with his trousers over his arm."

They too may have been having a smoke at the time, or looking out of a window, I forget.

[WorraLiberty]

That must have been a never ending

[wheresthetea]

LadyAntonella Really? Multiple teenagers getting high enough from sharing a single spliff between them that they walk out in front of cars? Jesus, they must be selling some strong stuff these days

[nooka]

I live in Canada where we are currently figuring out how to effectively legalise cannabis, and where it is frequently prescribed for medical reasons. Smelling puff as you walk down the road is very common here, lots of people grow their own and most parties will involve baked goods, spliffs or pipes. Very similar to how alcohol is drunk socially in the UK (actally possibly less harmfully as there seems to be less binge drinking here). There is an issue with teenagers, but really it is similar to alcohol abuse, if you saw a bunch of teenagers passing a bottle of vodka between then during the day I think you'd be equally concerned.

[PoundingTheStreets]

I don't believe I said that cannabis was more harmful than alcohol empirically. I just pointed out that cannabis is not "harmless". Because it's not, even when smoked moderately. That doesn't mean I don't believe adults can't make their own informed choices about what risks they take with their health and the law. But cannabis does have harmful health effects even in very small dosages.

Whereas while I'd happily agree with you that alcohol causes society huge amounts of problems, when consumed moderately it does not cause harmful effects to health.

Please do not be disingenuous. It detracts from the argument.

[MariaSklodowska]

" And nobody gives a toss if you both appear out of the bushes one of you with your trousers folded over your arm! "

Really? I have never tried that...do you want to share Scaredy?

[Scaredycat3000]

When I am in London I often sit in a Bloomsbury square and have a quiet smoke. No one gives a toss.
And nobody gives a toss if you both appear out of the bushes one of you with your trousers folded over your arm!
Nobody should be walking near a school/playground having a smoke, but more common and directly unsettling for many DC is the number of people who think it's appropriate to bring along their dog on the infant school run or bring their dog out for a walk directly past the school. The same elderly lady tells me every few weeks how she brings her dog for a walk during the school run because DC love dogs and every time I ask her to keep her dog away from my DC as they hate them!

[Iggi999]

I have never known a person to be much improved by cannabis use, and this is doubly true for the teenagers I know who use it.

[BlueUggs]

I hate it and I think it smells vile. It makes me really cross that people feel it is acceptable in public. I hate spitting too. no, I'm not 80

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

Greendale is the idyllic village where Postman Pat lives, all mysteries and crimes are solved in a day with a happy ending Maria

[MariaSklodowska]

" to pretend weed is empirically more harmful than alcohol is just daft."
thank you Hound

[LadyAntonella]

Yanbu. I see (or smell) this a lot. It's just stupid. I walked behind a couple of teenagers the other week while they smoked a stinking spliff the whole way along a busy street at about 3.30 in the afternoon. They were passing it between each other and then met up with friends (all in school uniform) who then were passing it among themselves. They were so dazed and focusing on passing this spliff back and forth that they very nearly got run over. So very stupid, but doesn't affect me I guess, unless one of these fools stumbles in front of my car some day.

[HoundoftheBaskervilles]

Pounding, but cannabis in excess? Certainly not as harmful in alcohol in excess. Don't be silly.

I don't smoke weed any more, might have a toke at a party if it's offered, and the new strains can be extremely harmful in psychiatric terms, but to pretend weed is empirically more harmful than alcohol is just daft.

[MariaSklodowska]

where is Greendale ILost?

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

It sounds like you live in Greendale, Maria

[MariaSklodowska]

" I also thought smoking cannabis was pretty much legal now."

Depends on the police force Vicky
Here where I live, seeing 8 coppers running around after two lads smoking a joint, and then spending the rest of the night looking for the miniscule amount they threw away, is pretty standard.
But then they have little else to do.
When I am in London I often sit in a Bloomsbury square and have a quiet smoke. No one gives a toss.

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

There are stronger forms of cannabis these days. Skunk for example smells very strong.
There is also a legal form of synthetic cannabis called spice that people smoke quite blatantly in public. Spice is horrible stuff, really addictive and causes nasty psychological problems so it's not a better alternative, but very cheap.

[DuckAndPancakes]

I doubt it will be illegal for much longer. Probably legal and regulated by the time your DC are grown.

You're pretty fucked no matter where or when you want to smoke it, someone will be pissed off or offended. I used to smoke it in communal garden, away from everyone/anyone else unless they told me they had no issue with it.
YANBU for not wanting it overtly in public in the same way you'd not be unreasonable for not wanting people sitting around drinking and smoking fags.

[Vickyyyy]

I also thought smoking cannabis was pretty much legal now. I thought it was fine aslong as its for personal consumption but if you are caught with an amount that its obvious you are dealing then it was illegal

[CaspoFungin]

But you can vape cannabis therefore if you do it like that it's less harmful than alcohol.

[Vickyyyy]

I absolutely love the smell of cannabis. Skunk is vile though...and I can smell it from a mile off...

YANBU. A kids park is not the place to smoke dope.

[PoundingTheStreets]

There's a good case for making it legal, but let's not pretend it's as harmless as alcohol. It's not. Alcohol in moderation does no harm. Cannabis smoked in moderation still has a harmful on the lungs (more so than cigarettes).

[NeedACleverNN]

Those who DO like the smell, could you answer me something?

Has it gotten stronger smelling in the last few years or is just about more?

I am certainly smelling it more than I used to and when I do it reeks.

[HoundoftheBaskervilles]

I would like the use of the word 'inacceptable' to become unacceptable, but we can't control other people's behaviour.

I've never understood the hysteria about tobacco smoke, really, I just think some people like to get a bit fucking excited about things.

[VestalVirgin]

The smell is horrible in my opinion. They really should be more considerate and at least go somewhere with not as many people if they don't want to have the stink in their house. Or just eat cannabis cookies instead.

I am very happy that smoking tobacco in public becomes increasingly inacceptable, and would hate for cannabis to take the opposite route.

I am for legalisation of cannabis consumption, but have always been against the habit of smokers to make everyone else breathe their smoke. What is smoked only matters insofar that cannabis smells even worse than tobacco.