What next for the Sussexes?

[Casuaala]

I thought yesterday couldn't have gone better, all things considered; there was the least amount of drama or negative coverage possible regarding the Sussexes.

I'd like to hope that this marks a fresh start. Harry's got all the recriminations off his chest. The Royal Family have maintained a dignified silence and hopefully the future is rosy. The Sussexes can have the life they want in the US, with a small presence in family events back here when appropriate. (I wouldn't be surprised however if Megan never makes it back on UK soil).

Oh yes, William was pulling pints just the other day.
Well known that alcohol has the most devastating death results. Even crossing the street you can be killed due to someone driving and consuming - the is the higher stats.

Can't believe the anti H&Ms are doubling down on this proven fact.

It’s completely predictable and true to form.

Just saw the post from mumsnet.

Talking about weed use but not being specific is a way of advertising himself as someone who is assimilating into American life like when he was spotted watching the Super Bowl. Maybe he will be advertising cannabis at some point in the future- who knows? His use of weed could be problematic but that's something that only Meghan or their staff would know about. If Meghan runs for political office then a husband who is well integrated into American life could be an asset.

I'm not convinced that being an alcoholic or druggie being an open secret is better than coming out and confessing. I assume that he wanted to "control the narrative " which has been a goal of his since he left. I don't think he's achieved that but it's easy to understand why someone who has felt controlled their whole life would want to try and take control hence not settling the phone hacking case.

The King, Queen or the Wales' taking drugs is a different kettle of fish. Harry has left The Firm and his drug use as an adult living in California should be treated like married Mike Tindall getting drunk and flirting with a woman in a bar- bad behaviour that the wife will know is problematic or not.

It is sad and bizarre that anyone thinks this is a such a normal part of American culture that it would help someone get elected. Sheesh.

And I don’t think he was trying to control the narrative. I think he truly believes using drugs is so normal and healthy that he should tell everyone about it. I have met people like this. They end up smoking with their kids, who also end up addicted.

'Oh yes, William was pulling pints just the other day.'

That is just so irresponsible! how very dare he chat and mingle with everyday folk. Did he swig all these pints he pulled . I saw him take an order for a takeaway too, I hope he covered himself by stating cooking from scratch with locally sourced ingredients was the better option.

https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects/lung-health.html#:~:text=Smoked%20marijuana%2C%20regardless%20of%20how,damage%20to%20small%20blood%20vessels.&text=Smoke%20from%20marijuana%20has%20many,causing%20chemicals)%20as%20tobacco%20smoke.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37124347/

Background: We investigated how low marijuana (MJ) use levels, the typical use pattern in most adolescent users, affect cognitive maturation and schizophrenia
risk.

Results: In the Iowa sample, longitudinal changes in 5 of 8 cognitive domains were significantly associated with eMJ. On sustained attention, visuospatial working memory, and executive sequencing, adolescents with eMJ showed less age-expected improved performance. In addition, first-degree relatives with eMJ were less improved on processing speed and executive reasoning than first-degree relatives without eMJ. In the birth cohort, greater intraindividual variability in reaction times (indicative of poorer sustained attention) was significantly associated with more frequent MJ use and with recreational use levels.
Conclusions: Nonheavy MJ use disrupts normal adolescent maturation and compounds aberrant adolescent maturation associated with familial schizophrenia risk. These findings underscore the importance of reducing adolescent MJ access in the context of increased availability to high-potency MJ.

supporting illegal drug use

Not illegal where he is. Being accurate with information is always important.

The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6913861/

It has not been legalized by the federal government. It’s more complex. For example, a medical professional in my state cannot smoke it in another state without risking their license. It’s not acceptable for the military, either.

It's was illegal here at the time of much of his drug use and it's illegal in most other American states. It's legality or otherwise is not the issue here. It's his promotion via his book and numerous interviews.

I think that it is typical that my nuanced view on drug use is taken the way some of you have but it is par for the course here. On a population basis I would take decriminalisation over criminalisation anytime - and as I have said I have met many drug users in all stages of their usage - from being incapacitated to mentioning it in passing. I have also said that I am not in favour of drugs because of the health outcomes which have been aptly listed here but I would like to gently broach that many of these studies have investigated people who are taking these drugs regardless of legality. Harm reduction strategies are a better approach all round but I understand that this is an emotive subject.

And Harry's views are not nuanced. That's the problem. He says they have had a positive influence on him. Yet he has mental health issues of long standing and obvious paranoia. If he qualified his views and pointed out some of the cons you would say at least he is honest.

The legality isn't actually the point here, anyway. It's the glorification of a harmful substance by someone who has a platform to speak is disturbing. I would find the promotion of alcohol for health benefits equally disturbing. But the fact it, he came to a country in distress due to drug use, and got paid to go online talking about how great it has been for him.

Meanwhile, people are openly shitting in the streets of California, due to drug addiction.

https://healthyliferecovery.com/weed-paranoia-psychosis/

Signs of Cannabis-Induced PsychosisPsychosis can cause many troubling symptoms. If you witness any of these symptoms in someone who uses weed regularly, it is vital to understand that the situation could quickly worsen.

• Atypical behavior: a person who is typically outgoing then becomes withdrawn and reclusive.
• Severe anxiety: feelings of paranoia or unrealistic interpretations of the surrounding environment can become overwhelming very quickly and without intervention.
• Detachment from reality: people experiencing a psychotic episode may seem distracted or unresponsive. They may have difficulty recognizing familiar people or loved ones’ names.
• Hallucinations: this can be hearing, seeing, or remembering things that aren’t real.
• Sleep problems: often those struggling with drug-induced psychosis have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping at acceptable times.
• Depression- these experiences are stressful, causing some people to develop symptoms of depression.

With respect - it has been decriminalised. All recreational drugs should have restrictions placed upon them - for example alcohol and pilots or the medical profession and your example with marijuana and the military . This discussion, you will recall, started with your assertion that everything has gone downhill since legalisation/decriminalisation (yes I’m paraphrasing) and I shared with you my own health concerns with drug use but disagreed with that things going downhill were from the above. We can disagree- it’s fine.

Did Harry glorify drug taking, though? I thought he sounded a sort of sad creature, puffing away on his own, as he went over his multitude of grievances. It's almost like weed made him paranoid! 🙄

The drugs which cause people to defecate publicly are not the cannabinoids.

Absolutely- meet one or two of these poor people a month here in the UK where it is illegal. It’s alright - I don’t think you understand where I’m coming from and that’s ok. I sense you’re upset and don’t think that this conversation is useful (because I think Harry is confusing the issue for many). Shall we leave it?

This.

If ever there was an advert for drugs not being a good idea he is surely it.

It's almost as if Harry has taken the logic he might as well share all his drug use with the world. Then nobody can make it front page news if he gets caught with a joint in in his hand.

Decriminalization is another problematic concept. Typically this means prosecutors and DAs deciding not to enforce laws that have been passed by the actual lawmakers, usually because the people that funded their campaigns to the tune of millions made that the quid-pro-quo. We are no longer governed by the rule of law in the US. We are now governed by people who were elected to enforce law and order, but cherry pick instead.

Sorry, I think you wanted the last word here. I will leave it with respect to discussing with you, since you quite obviously would like to shut down the conversation with this and your subsequent post. Can't promise to leave the thread as you seem to want me to do now.

I guess this point in a conversation is where the Brits say "I'm ok, jack."