To think cannabis should be legal?

[RainbowsAndCrystals]

Just came back from a week in Amsterdam.

I very occasionally smoke weed. It was just so nice to be able to sit outside, drink coffee and smoke with no judgment.

I saw hardly any police the entire time I wasn't there. Never felt unsafe.

Cheers imonly

I can't really take any credit though, it was the final awful panic attack that did it for me. If I'd not gone through it, I'd still be smoking it. It was fate I think.

You can buy £5 bags round my old town! I do really think it's aimed at kids Local comp has kids smoking spliffs down the ginnel opposite before school.

No, it shouldn't be legalised and I recently enjoyed the freedom in Amsterdam.
Isn't it just tolerated there? I think that would be good here too, but legalising it just enables more tax for our pleasure.
decriminalising is the best way forward.

No it shouldn't be legalised. Unlike our European neighbours, many British people are not able to "enjoy" a leisurely smoke or drink. We have a horrible drinking culture where people go out specifically to get drunk. A&E departments are filled with drunks having injured themselves on another Friday/Saturday night out. Do we really want to add Cannabis into the mix?

"Cannabis DOES NOT cause paranoia or mental health problems"

Work in mental health for 15 years then come back and see if you still think the same

YANBU, I absolutely agree.
'Wine o clock' and 'mummy juice' type phrases and attitudes are completely acceptable here any yet a naturally grown plant that can be GOOD for you is illegal.
Of course it's bad for your lifestyle and mental health if you smoke it all day every day, but a person drinking all day every day will be a lot worse off.
Legalise it, control and purify it, tax it. Canada do this brilliantly. It takes the power from the dealers, ensures it is safe, blots out all the dodgy skunk and could make the country a lot of money to invest in things like the NHS. I don't drink and would love a spliff every now and again to relax (and find it helps my anxiety soooo much, after being recommended to smoke it by my GP when I lived aboard) but can't.
I'm anti alcohol after seeing the negative effects first hand. I'll come to Amsterdam next time with you, op

It was about the same price in Dam as it is back home.

Obviously some was more expensive but that's because of its ingredients.

No it shouldn't be legalised. Unlike our European neighbours, many British people are not able to "enjoy" a leisurely smoke or drink. We have a horrible drinking culture where people go out specifically to get drunk. A&E departments are filled with drunks having injured themselves on another Friday/Saturday night out. Do we really want to add Cannabis into the mix?

I see what you're saying but cannabis is already in the mix.

Cannabis and coke are the 2 easiest drugs to get hold of.

It's not like introducing a new drug into the system.

YANBU OP. The more money taken out of the gangster's pockets, the happier I will be.

friday / saturday nights would have a lot less trouble and a+e would much quieter if people were stoned rather than drunk

I absolutely agree. So many reasons to, most of which have already been discussed.

And from a personal pov, I rely on stupid amounts of pain meds & sleeping tablets, all with crappy side effects, and long-term problems too. I went to Amsterdam earlier this year, and was amazed that I just didn't need them. The pain was manageable, I could sleep, and my mood was infinitely better too.

I totally disagree. Cannabis is fine for those occasionally indulging, but has a very negative impact on families in areas where there are already multiple problems.

Bratsy, problem is, those people are getting it anyway, except it's manipulated, stronger stuff. It it was legalised and regulated, people wouldn't rely on skunk etc and it would be a lot safer.

Um, no, and should you really be bragging online about being a druggie? Hope you don’t have any children.

Oh please.

Amsterdam also sell prostitutes in windows - should that he also allowed here?
The two are completely different and not compatible at all.

Those bringing up the point about teens and young people getting hold of it. Surely if it’s legal then it would make it harder for those demographics to get it since there would be an age restriction on it in the same way there is with alcohol. I doubt many dealers actually care how old their customers are as long as they get the money. Even if there were still backstreet dealers, the anount of them would decrease. Most people who smoke absolutely hate dealing with dealers.

"Cannabis is fine for those occasionally indulging, but has a very negative impact on families in areas where there are already multiple problems."

That is also true for Alcohol, which is legally available everywhere.

Yes and if alcohol was illegal, I would not be arguing for it to be legalised.

I live where it is already legal to possess and smoke weed. Starting 1 Jan commercial sales will begin. I'm glad to see it. It's going to create huge revenue for my State much of which will go towards research into medicinal uses and into social and mental health programmes for communities heavily impacted by drug use in the past. It is expected that legalization will result in $60 million per year in funding. Sounds like a win win to me.

YANBU, cannabis should be legal, codeine should be legal and various other drugs should be legally available for recreational and/or medicinal use.

Yes. Coke and heroin too. If people are going to be junkies we might as well get some tax money from the sales

I'm currently stoned so its a yes from me.

*Today 12:50 Fireandflames666

"Cannabis DOES NOT cause paranoia or mental health problems."*

As a HCP working in a psychiatric unit with patients with drug induced psychosis I have to strongly disagree with you here.

If weed was legalised, then people on eBay would have to mention if what they are selling is from a tobacco and weed free home.

You could also imagine the sharp increase of antisocial behaviour complaints to the council along the lines of "my neighbour is smoking in the back garden and the weed fumes have made my kid's bedrooms unliveable".

I also would wonder what the long term effects are on small children with the long term breathing in of second hand weed smoke.

Rise, it sounds as if you’re talking about a serious skunk habit. I think skunk should be controlled via legislation too, but you’re not describing moderate use of moderate strength cannabis.

If weed was legalised, then people on eBay would have to mention if what they are selling is from a tobacco and weed free home

Oh my goodness not the eBay sellers! I clearly didn't think this through.

I change my mind!