Cannabis... thoughts?

[countingthesheep]

I'm fully aware of the legal stance in the U.K. Of cannabis, I am simply curious of people's opinion.
Obviously anything that impairs someone's behaviour is not to be taken while looking after children, but is it acceptable for a parent to chill out with this while the child is in someone else's care.
Personally I see it as no worse than alcohol, which many people drink and still look after their children.. fully support it becoming legal in such a way as Amsterdam or America, but realistic this will never happen..
what's the general opinion on this?

[Soubriquet]

I disagree

Cannabis is an illegal drug and needs to remain so

Penaltys need to be forced better

[IcedVanillaLatte]

Why does it need to be illegal Sou?

[Soubriquet]

I've seen the effects it can have on people

It isn't as harmless as people think

It makes people paranoid and with paranoid comes aggression

[Thatwaslulu]

I've never seen the attraction myself, much to my parents' surprise after sending us to Amsterdam for our honeymoon. They have never indulged but only because they are non smokers.

My neighbours are constant users and our house stinks all the time as a result. I find it antisocial and annoying, but I don't judge them for using, just wish they would do it elsewhere!

[TimetohittheroadJack]

Alcohol also makes some people paranoid and violent.
if it's make you, or someone you care about paranoid and violent, you should stay out it.

If you are sitting in your own home getting the giggles and the munchies, then I don't see a problem.

[smEGGtoplasm]

For nearly 2 years I lived next to people who smoked it daily. At all times of the day and night.

Because of the old construction of my home and the amount that was being smoked, I could smell it throughout the house. It was particularly bad in my 3 year olds bedroom.

That is antisocial. Just because they liked having a house stinking of cannabis didnt mean that I or my children liked it too. It was affecting us every day. Our complaints fell on deaf ears because they were rude people who had no respect for the establishment or anyone else. The landlord was also useless but thats another story.

In the end, the house was closed down by the council for 3 months and the landlord punished. And I couldn't be happier.

I don't actually have a problem generally with people who take drugs, drink etc it's their lives but when they affect others who just want to live peacefully, as they should be allowed to, then I get annoyed.

[abbsismyhero]

My ex regularly does cannabis with his wife they are nightmares to deal with she used to get high and call me screaming about me stopping contact when in reality he hadn't turned up to see his daughter she claims she needs it due to medical needs their kids go without so they can buy it in my highly biased opinion it should have stronger penalties attached

As a side note I watched a program which said that cannabis can do real damage to people after only a few tries depending on your brain chemistry and the type of cannabis taken

[Ebbenmeowgi]

Pretty much anything in moderation is ok. It's like any drug though (including alcohol, and I guess caffeine to an extent!) - if it makes you behave like a dick, impacts on the quality of your life and/or others then it isn't the drug for you. Tbh I've seen a lot more people fuck up on alcohol more than any other drug. Space cakes though can be worrying - people don't realise how much they've consumed and how much stronger it can be until it's too late!

[FreckledLeopard]

I think cannabis can be potentially harmful and can cause psychosis. Having said that, alcohol can also do enormous amounts of harm.

I'd like to see all drugs legalised and regulated. They could be controlled, taxed, people would know what they were getting and it would be a lot safer. Of course some people will always abuse drugs, but the majority will use them much the same way as the majority of people can have a drink without turning into an alcoholic.

I don't think cannabis is benign or something that can't cause utter devastation and destruction. But used occasionally and recreationally, I can't get too het up about it.

[MistressMolecules]

I think it is wrong, it is illegal, as Soubriquet stated it should enforced harder. I spent the first two years of my eldests daughters life scrimping and financially struggling because my ex spent all our spare cash (and we didn't have a lot) on cannibis and when he didn't have any his temper escalated and he became an even scarier man. So yeah it is wrong, it is addictive, it causes all sorts of problems and I don't think it should be used - ever.

[Ebbenmeowgi]

I'm so sorry for what happened to you mistress but exactly the same could be said for alcohol - should we therefore make that illegal too?

Because of its illegal unregulated nature, much of the cannabis on the streets (and other drugs) have been bred/tampered with to be super strong with more psychoactive effects. If all drugs were decriminalised and properly regulated there would be proper monitoring of ingredients/growing conditions so users would actually know what they were consuming. We could all talk about them more openly too and have proper education around drug safety.

People are going to consume drugs whether they're illegal or not, it's what we've done since the dawn of time. It just seems such a waste of money and resources to be constantly fighting a war 'war on drugs' when we could actually be properly and safely regulating it.

[abbsismyhero]

The point is if it was regulated people would still want the stronger unregulated stuff plus the government would tax the hell out of it and it would be cheaper to buy it on the streets

[user1478625507]

Soubriquet, for every life "ruined" by cannabis, there are probably 1000 lives ruined by alcohol. Cannabis is easy to give up- way less addictive in fact than the tobacco pot smokers often mix it with- and the link to mental health is nowhere near as clear-cut as people seem to think. There isn't even conclusive proof that people with PRE EXISTING mental health conditions are made worse by cannabis, unlike the permanent physical and mental (aka brain damage) harm caused by alcohol abuse. Do you think it's acceptable that we live in a society where somebody can get completely wasted on vodka but someone with severe pain cannot legally consume a medicine that works for them?

Cannabis is illegal because of racism (google it), not because of any logical drugs-harm based studies, else alcohol would be a class A drug alongside heroin and cocaine.

[user1478625507]

MistressMolecules, that's what addiction does, it makes people angry when they don't get their "fix". Same thing with an alcoholic, smokers (in fact nicotine is way more addictive than cannabis), sex addicts gamblers e.t.c. It doesn't change the fact that the majority of pot smokers do not have any problems (9% of pot smokers are addicts, compared to 12% of people who drink- yes, marijuana is less addictive than alcohol).

Since when do tougher penalties work? Some people in the US have been sent to prison for years and do they come out reformed? Nope. It's a huge waste of taxpayer money to throw someone up who may not even have a problem to begin with, not to mention immoral. Cannabis is a medicine, people with chronic pain conditions often find it's the only thing that works. What kind of cruel person would think they should go to prison?

[PromisesPromises]

I can't get bothered about it. I was an almost daily smoker when I was younger, haven't touched it in years mind. I must admit the thought has crossed my mind to try it again since developing a chronic pain condition but haven't.

I think alcohol is far more insidious problem and have lost relatives due to cirrohsis of the liver and know far too many people with alcohol problems of varying degrees.

[enlightened1]

I disagree with you. Do you know that the total amount of deaths that come directly from cannabis consumption equal 0. Alcohol is legal yet is literally killing you. You're an uneducated fool on the matter to feel the way you do.

[TalkToTheHand123]

It should be 100% legalised.

[use257]

Should be legalised. I used to be debilitated by panic attacks daily. I was prescribed alsorts to calm my nerves, I was close to being admitted to a mother and baby unit but instead of the drugs I now use cannabis and I function like a normal human being.

According to the law I'm a criminal, which would be laughable really if you met me

[DogsAndGin]

Is it okay for a parent to give their child to someone else to look after, so they can get high in peace? No.

[TalkToTheHand123]

Getting high and chilling out can be very different. Far better drug than alcohol although I'd recommend researching other options also.

[Chickenkatsu]

They legalised it in Canada with no ill effects, UK is very behind on the matter.

[Ohsugarhoneyicetea]

Should be legal, does much less harm than alcohol to your body and used properly can be very beneficial. Sadly people with mental health issues self medicate with it (because it has a calming effect) giving it a bad rap. And like alcohol if you are taking it all day every day you have a problem and need help (unless you are in palliative care and using it for pain control).

[Gonnagetgoing]

My brother smoked it from 15 to mid late 20s, he was a definite stoner and was addicted.

I think it’s not one of the worst drugs but people downplay it’s bad sides.

[Gonnagetgoing]

A close friends DD smoked it from 16 to 23 and it really affected her, so much so she made a video with a poem she’d made about it.