Cannabis should not be decriminalised - AIBU?

[Alwaysoneoddsock]

I hate the smell of cannabis. It’s becoming the norm to smell it. I think decriminalising this drug will make it more prolific.
It is a gateway drug.
It does not help mental health (in fact it worsens it).
People driving under the influence of cannabis is a real issue.
AIBU to say it should not be decriminalised?

It is not a gateway drug.

I smoke it regularly, I'm 46, smoked it for maybe 20 years or more, not psychotic, have raised three lovely children, own my home, I'm an accountant.

I'm not a drinker, hate the stuff.

@Fairyliz it's not.....I know so many people that smoke, we've never set fire to anything but the end of our spliff

But I know someone who has and went to prison for it. So it appears in some cases it can lead to taking harder drugs.

I won’t be going there any time soon then , the smell would make me feel sick

I’d be happpy for it to be legalised in oil / tablet form for medicinal purposes .
just not for smoking as it stinks to high hell.

all for licensing it to grow it too , for teas & for eating but not sure how you’d stop people smoking it

Outrageous it’s so expensive for medicinal cannabis
should be price of a prescription which is zero if you don’t earn

A drive by of any hydroponics supplier would show that this debate is a little behind the times.

Anyone who wants cannabis can easily grow it.
Anyone who wants something dealers call cannabis can buy it.

But if it’s heavily taxed then ppl still buy on the black market
If ppl smoke it in own homes they need to close their windows especially if in a flat . And ban it from being smoked in gardens
No one wants to smell their neighbours weed smoke while sitting in their garden

I do believe we should decriminalise cannabis

My support for this is so young people in particular can use milder strains of cannabis the influx of incredibly strong strains of skunk that is sold now and is the dominant use for young people is having a terrible impact on so many young peoples mental health

Worth pointing out that the moment you buy something on the street, then you have no idea what it is. So really this thread is debating (as noted) "stuff sold under the name cannabis". Which may - or may not - have anything to do with cannabis.

The youngsters will still want the strong skunk stuff available on black market tax free.
I think cannabis oil should be made easily available for medical purposes ( with a GP / specialist referral and cheaply)
Other than it should be illegal And the police need to start policing it

I agree. I’m tired of people saying it’s ‘just’ weed. everyone I know who smokes weed it has given them mental health issues, made them have really bad anger issues and it’s impacted their family life, social life, career, they’ve become lazy, impacted their fiannces - the list goes on.

I dated someone who was a severe cannabis user. When it went to family court I listed how it affected him and our child and despite it being proven (police reports of abuse and he failed multiple drug tests) courts said it was just cannabis and it wasn’t an issue. He would become a vegetable when he smoked, completely incapable of looking after himself and when he didn’t smoke, he would have withdrawals - he would become so angry and abusive. He would smoke so he wouldn’t work, and it ended up causing financial abuse too as all my wages would be going on him and his drug habit.

People who say it’s ‘only’ weed either smoke it themselves and don’t see the issue or they have never seen it first hand from a partner or a loved one. It doesn’t just ruin the life of the individual but it affects the people surrounding them too.

I have no doubt that some will

The police can not police it it is too out of hand and too prevalent there is not the resources to

Money raised can also be put back into drug services

I don't believe we are the kind of nation that can decriminalise and not have drug driving skyrocket.

If anyone wants to smell it and relive their youth just catch a London bus. It's basically permeated the fabric of the upper decks now.

Thailand's PM seems to have had enough, anyway. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thai-pm-says-cannabis-be-re-listed-narcotic-by-end-2024-2024-05-08/

The youngsters will still want the strong skunk stuff available on black market tax free.

I think it's rather naive to believe that when legitimate businesses work overtime to rip off their customers, illegitimate businesses would somehow have the moral high ground.

wouldnt take much resource to hand out on the spot fines and cautions I think

Of course it does. That's why they stopped doing it in the first place.

Whilst true, the struggle to actually get it means a lot of people still end up having to buy on the street, or ideally, grow their own.

https://releaf.co.uk/blog/westminster-hall-debate-barriers-to-accessing-medical-cannabis-in-the-uk

As an aside, hemp is an amazing crop for improving soil health, sequestering CO2 and providing oil, fibre and animal feed into the bargain.

It's not a gateway drug but it's damaging enough on it's own. I don't believe in decriminalisation, it's not the same as alcohol

But cannabis use does seem to have increased in Canada, especially among teens.

Correct. The cost is huge. Penalising small time possession has failed

what do you think its a piece of paper and a fine and no further work for the police ?

OK, I'll bite as I can see HAs and "enforcement" mentioned a few times..

I'm an ASB officer for a VERY large HA. We cover the whole of England.

I've worked this role for oooh, 20 years, give or take.

Cannabis smoking is our 3rd biggest report type, after verbal abuse and noise.

You know how many people I have evicted just for smoking cannabis......0.

Why?

Because HAs cannot evict their own residents, only a court can do that. That person could break every single section of their tenancy agreement, pay £0 rent and still unless a Judge agrees that person keeps their home. (There are mandatory possession grounds here, but cannabis smoking wouldn't apply)

I have secured evictions when that person is doing other ASB which is evidenced, but how do you evidence a smell? We rely on police finding the drugs, testing the drugs and convicting them in court for possession.

I did think I had a slam dunk case once. Up North in Derby, block of 6 flats. 1 prolific cannabis smoker. Perfectly polite resident but smoked like a chimney. 5 complainants, detailed diaries from each of dates/times they smoked it. Police issued CPWs (never found actual drugs but could smell it). 6 months of reports, cannabis smoker never, ever engaged with me..

So, I thought fuck it. Completed a proportionality assessment and served a NOSP. Breached NOSP so sent to court. 4 residents attended to give evidence, perp turned up, said he smokes it to "relax".

Judge turned to me and said "MrsMoose are you seriously suggesting I should make this person homeless, and unable to access ongoing housing purely because he is creating a bad smell"

"No Judge, I am asking for possession of the property because he is in breach of his tenancy, smoking an illegal substance and having a detrimental effect on his neighbours ability to enjoy their homes"

Judge responds "MrsMoose, I do not agree that a smell is enough to warrant making someone homeless. If the witnesses here don't like the smell, tell them to open their windows. Case dismissed. Costs to be paid by the Claimant"

So, we lost AND had to pay the dope heads legal fees.

Of course, very few Judges live in an area where prolific cannabis smoking is likely to be an issue..

But now, my HA will not enforce cannabis smoking unless it's linked to other ASB..

What we're seeing much more of now is young teenagers, mostly male, around 12-16yo getting involved with gangs and smoking cannabis. Their behaviour is vile, social services try to intervene but the family and teen doesn't engage properly and eventually it escalates until that teen does something serious. One particular case springs to mind where the boy stabbed a rival on a bus.

For HAs it's not just "sue" or "enforce". The legal system in this country is complex and HAs are required now under govt legislation to always be working to MAINTAIN tenancies, not applying for evictions.. it has to be some serious ASB to consider evictions and smoking cannabis is not that.

Believe me, it annoys me having to tell complainants this and directing them to the police reporting websites instead (knowing police won't do anything) but other than sending a letter saying we've had a report your smoking cannabis, please stop, there is little else a HA can do as the power lies with an outdated court system.

100% agree @beesandstrawberries. Can't believe the easy ride weed gets, no one seems to take it seriously, but a flat-out user has little to distinguish them from an alcoholic. Why do we need a nation of weedheads on top of the problems we've already got?

That's one person. Im pretty sure most ppl i know have smoked it at some point and none of them turned out to be hard drug users. It is bad for mental health though, but so is alcohol!!