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?

I think this suggestion was in the news today due to sadiq khan

I mean, the fact is the london met police can't afford to police cannabis users which is probably why he's suggested it 🙄

But I think yabu - it doesn't kill, if someone wants to smoke it, that's their business

I'm not an fan though, hate the smell

Although would try a weed brownie!

It's legal where I am but it's very rare that I get a whiff of it.

As a whole, the studies do not support the idea that it's a gateway drug.

I don't think there's any good reason for it to remain criminalized.

Alcohol being legal means that when you or I go to buy a bottle of wine from Asda, we know that it's going to be safe to consume. It has a label on it saying exactly who made it and when, what is in it and what % of alcohol is in it. We know that the £10 we spend on it is going to a legitimate business which isn't funding organised crime.

We trust that the vast majority of adults are capable of moderating their intake, we take a hefty slice of tax to help fund services which pick up the pieces for those who can't do so.

That is why cannabis should be decriminalised and properly controlled, just as alcohol and tobacco is. The choice is not legalised consumption or no consumption, it's safe or unsafe consumption.

Oh so you know someone! Excellent evidence!

You're not being unreasonable to feel that way lots of people share concerns about the smell, health effects, and public safety. Others argue that decriminalisation helps regulate use and reduce harm. It’s a complex issue with valid points on both sides.

Hehe, yes, like cheese is a gateway drug, leads to wine and crisps and hummus and dips and olives... TERRIBLE... should never have been legal.

They are already doing it. Well a significant amount are.

Know way too many people who've had serious psychological damage linked to smoking pot to ever want it made legal. I would prefer it were taken much more seriously, not less. Though I believe 'basic' marijuana is probably not that damaging (and can be positive), there is a lot of evidence the engineered, 'super-skunk' kind can be catastrophic, especially for people with genetic tendencies toward psychiatric disease. The former is the type that might be prescribed, the latter the type my friends (and I) would smoke. If the option was legalising the former whilst cracking down on the latter, maybe I'd agree... but I can't see how that could be feasible, people will just continue to smoke the stronger kind, even if they have to buy it illegally. And if it's not legal, the gangs will continue. Honestly, the proposal to legalise seems to just be an admission that we are unable to prevent it. And I don't think that the best solution to crime is ever to just legalise the crime.

The "moving to harder drugs" issue is due to the need to purchase from dealers who offer other drugs - if it is purchased like alcohol then there would be no more risk than alcohol imo

Cannabis is everywhere, despite it being illegal. Legalising it would mean the income is taken away from criminal gangs, and into legal businesses, which are taxed. Legalisation does not mean greater use, but the destigmatisation can help provide support for users.

Yes of course it should be decriminalised. For a brief time in the 2000s it was effectively downgraded to class C and there was no enforcement. Society did not fall apart.

Some people do develop problems with it, staying at home consuming it all day. That is not healthy, in the same way drinking all day is not healthy either. But this is a medical issue, not something that needs the resources of the police and criminal justice system to manage. I don’t know when the UK became so puritanical about this, but we could do with looking at our history in greater detail to see if cannabis makes your society fall apart.

I think it should be legalised and taxed. The country needs money. There's one way sorted.

Is rather run into someone stoned than a drunk person. Cannabis does not cause you to act erratically when high. Personal experience says it turns you into human mush or a giggling idiot.

Also, it being a gateway drug....I don't agree with this. I think alcohol is usually the first substance that ost people try. For me it was booze then coke and then pot.

I like others have said have grown out of it, including alcohol.

I have met two people with cannabis psychosis. Both very young, isolated, and left to it by parents who would have probably stepped in if it were alcohol.

Both recovered. They had other addiction problems later. Both had awful, neglectful parents

No it shouldn't be legalised. Couldn't agree more. It messes with people's mental health and can cause psychosis and long term issues and dependency. Tragic for those involved and their families. If you know anyone who works in a mental health setting you will be aware of this

Legalising it won't stop the incorrect use of stop and search this is more of an issue of racism. Legalising cannabis won't stop racism.

Falling tax revenues from smoking (good thing) and people drinking less are better for us as a nation and our health. We should find other ways to fund our public services.

County lines will just find other sources of income perhaps even harder drugs, this is just economics. It won't stop county lines.

Philosophically I find it troubling ... If there was lots of another type of crime should we morally as a society just accept this? And say ah well never mind everyone does it. Worrying line of thinking.

Legalising cannabis won't solve these issues sorry.

Tell Reece Galbraiths neighbours that

ketamine is the teenage drug nowadays

It should be legalised. Regulate, tax it, take it out the hands of criminals.
Whether or not you like the smell is irrelevant.

The problem with countries that don’t have an NHS is that there is no cost benefit trade off. So it’s raised taxes but what has had to be spent on healthcare / policing / what is the impact of second hand smoke ?

Given that ketamine can make you incontinent or suppress your breathing I would say this is a far greater concern

Bodily autonomy only gets used on here when it suits.
Seems to be forgotten about when posters mention making an informed choice not to attend mammograms or smear tests.

I agree OP. It stinks. I know of several teens who have fucked their brains with weed and ruined their lives. I’m talking psychosis and schizophrenia

i would rather my kids took cocaine

Technically actually using drugs is not a crime. Possessing them is.

Anyway, other countries manage fine. Cannabis is not worth the angst. What is are the systems like county lines which are ruining lives.

The problem is it's not just their business if they smoke it. A very individualistic way of thinking.

The if they develop mental health issues or lung cancer as a result it's 'all our business' and the state which needs to step in. If they've got kids and it creates families issues who steps in?

I'm sure plenty of people smoke it and it's harmless but there's plenty for who is does great damage and it no longer 'just their business.'

Legalize it. I would love to be able to buy it legally as I think it would help my arthritis pain.

It would be a medical issue whether or not it was legal. I’d say it was probably better to allow it to be a medical issue without the finger wagging. Isn’t it preferable to have people get well than not?