Cannabis

[timwilky]

I watched the programme last night.

There were a few mixed messages, Lots say it is not addictive, yet there was one young lad giving the impression he was desperate to dump the habit and claimed he was addicted.

I thought it lacked any real detail about the paranoia and aggression caused by cannabis abuse. Yes I have seen at first hand how it can seriously mess with heads. It may "calm" some whilst they are smoking the stuff. But they are extremely violent soon after.

As an ex user of the stuff. I think the current skunk types have ruined the possibility of it ever being legitimised in this country. A bit of leb or rocky in my day would have been a quite night and a restful sleep. Poor kids today are off their trees.

Originally Posted by timwilky

A bit of leb or rocky in my day would have been a quite night and a restful sleep. Poor kids today are off their trees.

+1, nearly everyone I knew at Uni was a toker, I only saw paranoia or aggression in one or two people, and usually the same people who turned in to 'ers after a few drinks

[yorkie_chris]

I know a few people who do it, I don't see the fuss. If I want a 'buzz' I'll go and do a hundred and daft mph on the bike or throw myself off a rock wall somewhere, if I want to mong out then I'll go down the pub and throw a gallon or 2 down my neck. Simples.

I smoked the occasional fatty when in my teens and 20's. In truth I preferred a beer. My boy spent around 4 years smoking it non stop with his buddies. Here it is more socially accepted although still illegal. Cannabis does damage brain cells and to some degree is addictive.

When my boy decided he wanted to follow a military career he knew that this involved random drug screening, therefore he stopped. I was amazed at the stupidity of some of his colleagues who, when given their first pass out during basic training, went off and smoked dope and some even snorted cocaine! Monday morning apparently saw 5 or 6 leave basic training rather than go through the drug test which was to follow their weekend off.

My boy has admitted that he was a jerk who lived in a constant stupor with no motivation at all. He apologised to me for how he must have been during that period. Being a professional seaman, he is now happy to party using alcohol but not to excess.

As some of you know, I was a heavy weed smoker for 10 years. I still have the occasional one now.

I think that program missed a huge point. Age...

As a teenager, your mind is expanding, your self concious as it is, who you are, what others think, are you cool etc. Its the way it is at that age. Your brain is hugely developing, and if you start smoking weed at a early teen age, the paranoia will really screw you up, hence the major mental issues the kids get.

Start when your old, and these issues do not happen. Sure there will be the odd on who has a bad reaction, but people react badly to bread, dairy, nuts, so ????????

I think there are more smoker than the government is aware of.

I would have smoked less if I could have gone to a coffee shop at the weekend, probably wouldn't have smoked it during the week then.

Yes it does make you paranoid, fact. But like everything thats fun, there is a drawback and a negative. Moderation is the key. You don't go out on your bike and ride it as fast as you can everywhere. You will either get caught, or die. But if you ride sensibly, and have the occasional "blat" your at much less risk, and enjoy it more when you wind it open. Same principles. The people who turn into drug lord aggressive knife weilding nutters, have issues in the head, that have nothing to do with weed. There are deeper issues, and the weed is an excuse for their actions.

The police have the wrong attitude. How many of them home growers simply wanted to avoid dealing with chavs, who sell you dodgy weed, and like said, you don't know where your money is going, or what its funding. Every single weed smoker I still know would rather pay a little more, but without the illegal activites.

Sure it makes you subdude, paranoid, lazy. But as long as you stay on top of things, and only do it in moderation when you have nothing to do, there is nothing wrong with it.

As for addiction, no weed itself is NOT an addictive drug despite what a 14 yo may say The whole process of rolling, the routine, and the TOBACCO used is addictive, but then if you could afford to smoke a pure green all the time, you would. There are elements that are addictive, but weed.skunk itself is not.

I have goen cold turkey numerious times, and other than the sweats at night as it exits your system, there is no "addictive must have must have" like you have with tobacco, alchol, or other substances.

I think i've written this at least 10 times over the years of being on this forum. Many of my friends who do smoke, are earning £40K plus now, at 29/30 years of age. In fact, one of them, is a super LIUNIX coder, a high level manager, and earns close on £60k per year. He smokes every night, has done for a least a decade. Thinks his lowest point was when he stopped weed for a while, and started drinking wine on an evening (which has now stopped). Far far worse.

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by bluefishman

Agree, if it was legal the government would make money, it would stop the smuggling, and they wouldn't have to spend money on trying to catch the bad men growing the stuff, students mainly

Like Ralph & Slinky said, if it was legalised and tax, there would still be smuggling, because the tax would be so high, as is the case with cigarettes now.

Although the Dutch are often quoted as the liberal pathfinders in this area, you'd be suprised to know that they are less & less tolerant of the 'coffee shops', as they have a new policy of 'active extinction'. When a coffee shop closes, then they don't allow it to reopen as a 'coffee shop'.

I guess they're fed up of being the centre of the dope tourism industry for Europe and the criminality the goes with the business. If it was going to be taxed the Dutch would have tried it first. So no way is it going to happen here

[STRAMASHER]

Should be de-criminalised for possession in this day and age.

Let the cops get on with doing more worthwhile work. Free up the courts and the jails.

Small or on the spot fines if caught in public. "There's your slap on the wrist." Confiscate the gear for the Policemans ball.

I know plenty of folk who did not realise they were just addicted to cigarettes, nothing else.

For the record I stopped at 23. Happy but lethargic days. Although I'll never knock back a coupla tokes at festies or rallies. But I usually will need to go lie down and listen to some good music after the initial two draws dunt.

Wheres the "sleepy" eyed smilie?

Actually its more a case of huge pressure from the EU to adopt the non smoking policey indoors. A lot of Amsterdams tourist economy is through people wanting to come, and try a "cake" or a muffin or even smoke a joint.

That is unless you know someone high up in the Holland government who's told you this information direct, otherwise, I wouldn't believe that.

Although i've not been there for 5+ years now and the laws are tougher, due to the EU. But I have visited many many many times.

[Wideboy]

I'd kill for a spliff right now

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by SmudgeK3

Oh so you think the law makes a difference to the uses.
Most of the governments income goes to the bankers as thats who they work for nowadays not us.

Passes the tinfoil hat...