A.I.B.U not being on cocaine or smoking weed?

[Drinkwinewithme]

Because everyone and his neighbour seem to be and no one says a word any more. I do not know many who do not take cocaine or weed. It,s all over my workplace- i know those who take it and don't we know when the weekends over, in awful moods.

The smell of weed is everywhere now. By shops , by schools, i can smell on peoples clothes and wonder really if i called the police would they laugh down the phone and suggest they thought it too be legal since lockdown, stop wasting police time?

Neither bother me. Don't take either but have dabbled many moons ago. I think alcohol is worse in any case, if it was criminalised it would surely be class A.

@JaniceBattersby

Anybody who thinks cocaine is not addictive, or that drugs should be legalised, wants to spend a couple of days in the magistrates’ courts to see the absolute drug addled messes that come through the door. I’d say 90% of defendants, aside from minor driving cases, are using some kind of drug, mostly weed and coke (you don’t get a lot of heroin these days) and are also misusing prescription drugs.

I also thought weed was all fun and games before I started working in courts most days.

Wouldn't medical treatment be better than fines/ prison?

Fines are unlikely to be paid by addicts. Who spend every penny on their addiction.

Prisons (men's prisons esp) are full of drugs and that's a huge well known problem.

What does criminalisation of addicts achieve?

Addicts IME- from middle class highly functioning to rough sleepers. Have things in their past or present that have fucked them up. I can't think of anyone I know that was an addict whether booze heroin anything. That wasn't.

Or background education area etc that for most means unemployment hopelessness etc.

The addiction is a symptom. It's a medical issue.

I cannot see how addicts going through justice system will do any good at all.

@Drinkwinewithme

i find it weird that it's normal now and that i am the odd one out. i know of a man in his 60s taking cocaine. i do not want to smell weed out and about. How is it okay with everyone else?

You said it was all over your workplace OP. I asked a few questions about age/ industry. As in my long experience people at work tend to keep it v quiet. I know other industries are different.

In the end though. What does it matter to you personally smelling weed? Fags smell bad. Exhaust fumes are a big public health problem. The 60yo I mean. So what? It's his life. You don't like it. That's fine. Don't be friends with him.

Why would you want him arrested, what would you want the outcome to be?

Cocaine is psychologically addictive for sure.

However lots and lots of people do various drugs when young, recreationally. And stop. Plenty do stuff a couple times a year.

Those who become addicted to anything- booze coke gambling etc. Who can't walk away. That is because there are problems. The addiction is a symptom. Treat the cause.

Legalise tax. Govt cash. Addicts treated. Loads of awful gang stuff stopped. Those struggling can seek help rather than hiding it for fear of consequences.

Sounds good to me.

ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/mcs/media/images/49735000/gif/_49735645_drugs_comparisons_464gr.gif

UK harm info prof nutt.

@NiceGerbil the interesting thing I remeber him saying about that graph was the dangerous aspects of cannabis was due to the fact that it is mostly taken with tobacco and that cannabis itself would have been alot lower down.

I smell more weed in Manchester than I did in Toronto where it was legalised ( but banned in public spaces)

I’ve never been interested in drugs and my friendship group isn’t either. It doesn’t mean I’m not aware it’s around though.

Most people I know that dabbled recreationally knocked it on the head when they had kids, in my industry I suspect that some of the young ‘uns are at it but can’t say it’s in your face

Can't stand the smell of weed: the only person I've know who was a regular user (yes really, I don't get out much) ended up with really bad mental health problems. I've known a couple of people who used cocaine and they were a pain in the bum.

Cocaine is a cause of aneurisms. I can’t think of a more terrifying condition. I’d choose the occasional alcoholic drink any day over coke.

www.therecoveryvillage.com/cocaine-addiction/faq/aneurysms/

@MrsTerryPratchett I agree. A close family member is a judge (so has spent more than a day or 2 in court) and he thinks drugs should be decriminalised. He doesn't believe the 'war on drugs' can ever be won and that decriminalisation of drugs will help a lot of the social issues.

@Drinkwinewithme

Because everyone and his neighbour seem to be and no one says a word any more. I do not know many who do not take cocaine or weed. It,s all over my workplace- i know those who take it and don't we know when the weekends over, in awful moods.

The smell of weed is everywhere now. By shops , by schools, i can smell on peoples clothes and wonder really if i called the police would they laugh down the phone and suggest they thought it too be legal since lockdown, stop wasting police time?

I don't know anyone on coke or weed. Must be the circles you mix in

I'm massively against illegal drugs. Ditto alcohol too actually, with most of my extended family being a writhing pit of raging alcoholics. I hate the bastard stuff.

I can't help but think anyone tempted to try hard drugs should just go for the legal (and quite a bit cheaper) alternative of colourfully frosted cupcakes. I speak from experience when I say thick blue buttercream gives you a great high! And you're less likely to kill people under the influence.

I agree with you I know a hell of a lot who all have kids.

Not sure if it's where I live but I've smelled weed regularly since I moved here 25 years ago. Not a new thing. I actually quite like the smell, but think weed is a very dangerous, insidious drug for people who get into smoking it regularly. Don't have a problem with anyone having the odd spliff, although I wouldn't smoke it.

As for coke, most people I know do it / have done it (as have I a long time ago to my shame although was never a fan), but I bloody hate it and wish I could magic it out of existence.

It does zero good. At least ecstasy makes people loved up and bring people together, weed can be good for pain relief. Psychedelics can be mind opening, does something interesting brain-wise.

Coke just makes people into awful, selfish, boring twats, and is I believe the most unethical.

[quote Aimee1987]@NiceGerbil the interesting thing I remeber him saying about that graph was the dangerous aspects of cannabis was due to the fact that it is mostly taken with tobacco and that cannabis itself would have been alot lower down.[/quote]
Yes I think he did.

Thinking about it I was talking to the kids the other day about how medical research on LSD, cannabis just totally stopped due to the feeling about recreational drugs. Turns out they both have useful qualities esp cannabis.

The thing I find just totally ironic is that all the hooha about pills. Esp 90s.

They work by releasing seratonin in brain makes you happy etc.

Couple of friends went on SSRI said when started it felt like coming up on a quarter pill or something.

I found that as well when I took ADs. One day at start. Spine etc. Mild but same.

1 in 7 are on them I think? And essentially feeling better through v similar mechanism to boshing pills at a rave

Mdma should Def be legal. Very safe. Cheap. Doesn't make people angry fighty like booze. Not addictive....

If football fans were on pills rather than booze then hooliganism would be vv rare!

[quote Metropolismoon]Cocaine is a cause of aneurisms. I can’t think of a more terrifying condition. I’d choose the occasional alcoholic drink any day over coke.

www.therecoveryvillage.com/cocaine-addiction/faq/aneurysms/[/quote]
From your link (which is about addiction, so the couple drinks comparison is not right, should be v heavy drinking):

'How to Prevent an Aneurysm
The first step of prevention is to stop abusing cocaine, alcohol and other drugs. Stop using tobacco products, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Work on lowering your blood pressure and treat it if you need to. High blood pressure, regardless of it cocaine is involved, can lead to aneurysms.'

Marijuana has been legal in Canada now for a few years. Apparently (from the media) users are still mostly sticking with their own dealers rather than the government stores due to convenience and price. So the big tax haul is not there.

I have seen the government store packaging in the litter bin everyone uses for their dog bags though.

I don't see or smell much of an increase in use. The only thing that I notice, and bothers me a bit, is that there are several heavy pot smokers who go to the little park/green space near our apartment to smoke it. They have salvaged some chairs to sit on and they put their butts in disgusting containers with water in then.

It really stinks and I don't like taking my dog there now as he wants to go and greet them all! He is Mr Personality and the next thing I know he is almost sitting next to a lit joint or on a lap of a smoker.

We have had it cleaned up once and the chairs etc removed but they just come back. Right now they are using two chrome and white vinyl chairs that had been put out nearby as free for the taking. They look very weird in the green space. Ha ha.

I don't know what the solution is as smoking is banned in all of the apartment/condo buildings' common areas and if they don't want to smoke in their units, they have to leave the property.

I don't use it myself. Felt awful when I tried it 40 years ago.

I know this was light-hearted but if there are underlying issues loads of things can be addictive including food!

And obesity causes all sorts of problems for people.

'I can't help but think anyone tempted to try hard drugs should just go for the legal (and quite a bit cheaper) alternative of colourfully frosted cupcakes. I speak from experience when I say thick blue buttercream gives you a great high! And you're less likely to kill people under the influence.'

Bit hypocritical coming from someone whose username is @drinkwinewithme

So casual alcoholism is OK? A drug that kills 1000s? And needs to numerous health conditions?

I haven't touched weed or coke since uni days, I thought most people grew out of it and am quite surprised by the stories upthread of older people using! But still...can't really the OP seriously if casual alcoholism is "cool".

Bizarre. I don't know anyone who does either.

The drug which causes most harm. Early death, impact on others, crime, NHS costs, violence etc is alcohol.

So why would you want to add more drugs in? The more accessible you make something the more people use it.

Most people drink alcohol. Most people don’t smoke cannabis.

I don't know anyone who uses either of them.

Coke is very popular in the hospitality industry. Which is 'almost funny' as they legally sell the most dangerous and addictive drug of all. ALCOHOL.

Ijust-

Because people take drugs and always will and criminalising it helps no one.

Because many drugs are waayyy less harmful than alcohol and if their availability reduces alcohol use then that's a good thing.

Because it's totally illogical.

Because legality means more tax for govt and reduces gang issues etc massively.

Because taking a pill at the weekend is better for everyone than getting pissed up.