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?

I live in a state where marijuana is legal and my husband works on a huge grow, one of the biggest in this part of the state. Now that stinks. Good grief I’ve tried everything to get the smell out of his clothes and given up. And they wear special jump suits on the grow and change into their own clothes to come hone but still it smells.

I don’t like the smell so I only use edibles. I’m about to make a batch of brownies with cannabis oil as we speak.

Legalizing it is the best thing we have done about it here. You’re so far behind in the UK. It’s not like legalizing heroin. Alcohol is legal and causes all manner of problems. I don’t understand why marijuana isn’t.

Is it legal across the whole USA?

If not saying we're backward on this is a bit rich!

From the country that legalising cannabis, but criminalising abortion…

I miss ecstasy. The 90s were fun! Never saw any trouble with anyone on pills!

Those of you who think it's no big deal. I take it you're OK with kids being used to traffic it?

People don't care because it's not their kids.

I completely agree ALL drugs should be legalised. Bring it all into them open and have some control over it. The government then could use the profits from said drugs to fund rehabilitation projects, the police would also be free to tackle other crime and drug addicts would not need to steal to fund thier habit.
Look at prohibition in the 1930s in the US and the crime and devastation is caused .

I have tried read the whole thread so as not to repeat someone else, apologies if I have.
I have never used drugs but see many people a day who have and have done so for 20 years.
Point 1. When I drug test someone I ask what drugs they've used in the previous 72 hours and around 50% of the time it turns out that they haven't had what they think they've had (they tell me they've used heroin but they've actually had something else). Most people have no idea what they're actually using (brick dust, talc, etc is not good).
Point 2. You are likely to be drug driving (over the drug drive limit) and end up in court having lost your drivers license if you give a sample of blood within 72 hours of smoking Cannabis. That is how long your driving can be affected for so all those people who say they don't smoke it round others, I hope you don't drive cars either.

I work in a mental health facility and cannabis induced psychosis really is no joke. I'm interested in the US and wonder if they have similar problems.
Also why does no one give a shit about South American countries ravaged by cocaine? I know people that buy fairtrade bananas, only eat plants yet do cocaine every weekend. Bonkers.

I can’t imagine legalising coke or weed for that matter. Long term use erodes away at your sole. Consider the fact that it (coke) can dissolve your nasal cavity. You might at well sip battery acid. It’s a disgusting drug and it turns ppl into pumped up dick heads. So many crimes are committed because ppl are on coke including sexual assault and violent crime as it warps peoples’ senses and judgement and makes them aggressive.

I read somewhere that soldiers and suicide bombers in Afghanistan use coke and opiates so they get more blood thirsty - to be better fighters. To legalise it would be to endorse it and I don’t think that’s right.

Alcohol shows us just why we shouldn’t legalise coke or any class As. Deaths from alcohol are sky high and issues such as domestic violence etc are seriously perpetuated by it. This is despite the fact that alcohol is a ‘downer’ and coke is an ‘upper’. legalising it would stop gangs but more crime would occur as a result of people feeling like they are suddenly centre of the universe and needing an outlet for their artificial confidence and drive. And as someone said up thread the gangs would only find other ways to make money from the black market. Do people honestly think they’ll all just scuttle off to work in Sainsbury’s If drugs were legalised? Things would escalate.

Cannabis might mong people out rather than pump them up but the ppl I know who are regular smokers are paranoid and have personality issues. In the age of mental health awareness I think making it commercially available would be a mistake and send a counterproductive message. But it could and should be prescribed medically.

Also why does no one give a shit about South American countries ravaged by cocaine? I know people that buy fairtrade bananas, only eat plants yet do cocaine every weekend. Bonkers.

yep

@swissmummy12345

I miss ecstasy. The 90s were fun! Never saw any trouble with anyone on pills!

I've actually seen a particularly nasty fight at an after party where people had been taking ecstasy and mdma in clubs. Think the high is loved up, but the comedown can make people edgy and paranoid.

These people may also have been drinking though tbf. But ecstasy isn't all loved up-ness. I've seen a lot of people on come downs who are a total mess and it lasts longer than the high.

Also why does no one give a shit about South American countries ravaged by cocaine? I know people that buy fairtrade bananas, only eat plants yet do cocaine every weekend. Bonkers.

I agree. I’ve been partial to the odd line in the past but as I’ve become more aware of the devastation caused in its production I’ve been less and less able to reconcile the two and so don’t anymore

I do move in circles where it’s very very normal and yes, most these people are organic eating, shampoo bar using, montissori educating types

Is the current approach of criminalizing these substances working?

Hardly current - it started in the 1960s

@TheUser420

Is the current approach of criminalizing these substances working?

Hardly current - it started in the 1960s

By current I meant the approach the goverment is currently taking. Ie. The one they have been taking for over 50 years. So we have 50 years of evidence showing it doesnt work.

@Dojacatpaws

Is it really so bad to develop a heroin habit in later life

Exactly what I thought!

@Handsnotwands

Also why does no one give a shit about South American countries ravaged by cocaine? I know people that buy fairtrade bananas, only eat plants yet do cocaine every weekend. Bonkers.

I agree. I’ve been partial to the odd line in the past but as I’ve become more aware of the devastation caused in its production I’ve been less and less able to reconcile the two and so don’t anymore

I do move in circles where it’s very very normal and yes, most these people are organic eating, shampoo bar using, montissori educating types

Cocaine doesn't cause problems in South America. Retarded, provably unsuccessful on every level legislation causes problems.

Legalisation is the first port of call.

Not that I advocate cocaine use - filthy drug and no fun being with people on it.

Cannabis YABU.

Cocaine YANBU.

It's interesting that people think legalisation causes more use. It doesn't. In places where they've tried it, there is less first use. Crime goes down because of many complex reasons. This is one of those times 'common sense' is entirely incorrect.

Legalise everything, dispense everything free/cheap to addicts, make it clean, medical and boring. Sell cannabis in shops like alcohol. Price the gangs out, produce fair trade even! Have community street nurses do the work. Use the money you save for treatment and MH services. Concentrate police resources on underage use and education.

Criminalisation doesn't work. It makes the law look stupid, police ignore use anyway, it means lots of lovely money for gangs, sex work is rife, it's dangerous and scary.

Would you use heroin if it was legal? I wouldn't! Most people wouldn't. But I certainly drank under 18 in pubs, even though it was illegal. It's not legality which stops use and addiction.

Drugs are definitely more commonplace now than they were 20 years ago, partly because the way supply chains work have changed and also society has become far more accepting.

I hate drugs and what they do to people. For every middle class recreational user there's a very vulnerable user whose life is complete chaos.

Despite having said all that, I'm in agreement with MrsTerryPratchet. We will never ever be able to prosecute out way out of all these problems and the money and effort spent by the criminal justice system on possession offences would be far more effective spent on treatment IMO.

At the point of use, drinkers cause more issues than drug users (although coke and alcohol together seems to produce a particular kind of arrogance and violence IME). It's the trade itself that does so much damage to society, trapping children in county lines, forcing women and girls into prostitution and CSE, bringing about territorial warfare on the streets (invariably with weapons these days). Take the profit out through legalisation and regulation and you'd solve an awful lot of these problems IMO. Plough the money into holistic treatment programmes for addicts and you'd cut a lot of the demand anyway.

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?

I've never taken illegal drugs (or smoked) in my life. I've also seen how weed messes kids up (I'm a teacher). But it's a bit odd to ask 'Surely you're not all ok with this?', OP. It doesn't make any difference how many of us are or aren't ok with it - people will still do it! I'm not sure about the legalisation arguments - there are knowledgeable people on both sides.

I smoke weed every day. If you knew me in real life, you would never know. I've never touched another drug.

I don't even drink.

@Sillawithans

I smoke weed every day. If you knew me in real life, you would never know. I've never touched another drug.

I don't even drink.

Yeah I know people who would swear no one else knows they smoke cannabis, no one could possibly guess etc… meantime we all know, we just keep quiet about it. You may thinkyou hide it very successfully, but that’s a big assumption.

@MissyB1 I knew someone would be along saying exactly what you've said.

I remember years ago when Leah Betts died, think it was the 90's. I'm pretty sure her death kept me away from ecstasy etc.

[quote Sillawithans]@MissyB1 I knew someone would be along saying exactly what you've said.[/quote]
Because it’s true maybe 🤷‍♀️ On the whole people aren’t stupid.