Gringo Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 Not strictly OT Gringo, that has nothing to do with cannabis.Well it has a little to do with thread, a lot is about the legality, but Aye - it was the most appropriate thread I could find Trying to eradicate supply The point of the thread is that the nutter politicians aren't trying to eridicate supply - they're funding it through guns and reaping the profits through laundering the money. The state, if not the politicians is in cohorts with the drug suppliers on one hand, and pretending to fight them with the other. We could also look at the bountiful increase in drugs supply following similar US support in afghanistan. But the neo cons would start waving the sabres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norton65ca Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I'm 48 years old, my wife and I have been using cannabis socially and during non work hours since we were teens. I have a 26 year old son who is a manager at a sheet metal fabrication plant and I work in hitech. We have two beautiful grandchildren and a house we bought ten years ago in the most expensive real estate market in Canada. I guess you could say we're stable, sound, working tax paying citizens. I have never stopped using because of prohibition. I have taken breaks when it suited me. I also enjoy drinking fine craftbrewed ale (you guys would call it "Real Ale" I guess. I see, personally, no difference in "impact" between the two, provided each are used in sensible moderation. That being said, I do have some observations based on over thirty years of use. For young people, especially those looking to have a successful life career wise, they should monitor their use carefully for signs of it affecting their performance in school and on the job. Chronic marijuana use seems to reduce essential drive and motivation in SOME people. I warned my son when he experimented with this some years ago that it might affect his performance. People who suffer from anxiety, self image problems, insecurity or mental instability should avoid it to be honest, as it could be a trigger provoking paranoia and other problems. Inhaling smoke of any kind is NOT a good thing. Cannabis seems to me to be slightly less "clogging" to the chest that tobacco, and I've used both and I'm asthmatic, and have noticed the difference. I have realised that I should confine it's use to weekend fun, evening hours and non critical times, for social fun basically and nothing more. Regarding the practice of drinking a fair few pints THEN having a spliff, I do this a fair bit and I do find I'm within five minutes of having a long nap... unless I'm busy and socialising. The worst thing to do is to get absolutely schnockered THEN blow the reefer. It'll knock you right out 99% of the time. Blow the doob first before the drink flows too quickly... I'm not condoning anything here, I realise it's one of my vices, it's no panacea and comes with risks, like most pleasurable activities that involve stimulants. I do support the decriminalisation of this natural plant, combined with education and counselling for the young and for those who may have overindulged. I do think the amount of resources and time spent fighting the losing battle against this weed ludicrous and counter productive. The human race has spent thousands of years discovering plants that alter perception and it isn't about to stop any time soon, it's a natural human desire to be "altered". To criminalise the youth for the simple reason that they indulge in a little smoke once in a while is in itself criminal in my mind, but then, I'm an old stoner I guess... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Top Tip - don't mix with alcohol on the same evening you've given blood. I did this two weeks ago when i handed my notice in at work and had completely forgotten by the time I was celebrating in the evening - celebrations which were cut short as I seemed to turn a deathly shade of grey and almost passed out within an hour so. That aside, I'm fine with it, though generally if I'm smoking I do keep drinking alongside it to a minimum it certainly does have a greater impact on me the next morning it seems! seems like plenty of sound words there from mr norton there ^. i would like to think I would never start to do it whilst trying to work at the same time, I only ever do it in the company of friends music and laughter. The day i'm lighting up on my own in the morning before breakfast I know I need to stop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norton65ca Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 oh, and before anyone pipes up and condemns me for supporting Asian gangs, drug lords from Latin American countries or the underworld at large, I might add that my source is actually a little old lady who may or may not live on an island not far from here and grows organic outdoor in her garden. Ahh, life in Beautiful British Columbia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norton65ca Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 http://tinyurl.com/3vntjsw more on this topic, the NAACP has announced it's support for ending the war on drugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarewsEyebrowDesigner Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 legalize it, the world will then hopefully slow the **** down a bit. it's all got a bit to hectic recently, hasn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanishVillan Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Yes it has. I do see a change coming soon. Not really because of potsmokers but because of the other benefits from the plant. Also, the decision makers seem to have run out of scary things that cannabis will do to you. Suspicion of low sperm counts was the last bullet before they went full circle with: "This isn´t the same (harmless?) cannabis as it used to be" That may or may not be correct but the best sollution to that is...Legalization. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Condimentalist Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I think we are starting to see a change in the nature of the debate, though, certainly in this country and I would imagine in others too. There is more of an appetite to have a sensible rethink about the best way to address the harms associated with drugs, and I actually think we will start to see more countries move towards decriminalisation over the next couple of decades. This could get the ball rolling... The Liberal democrats are to call for the decriminalisation of all drugs, including heroin and cocaine, to be considered urgently by the Coalition Government in an effort to cut levels of addiction. The party's conference is preparing to back demands for Britain's "harmful" and "ineffective" drug laws dating back 40 years to be swept away and replaced with an entirely new strategy for tackling drug use. Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, who has previously supported drug decriminalisation, is understood to be relaxed about his party committing itself to such a contentious policy proposal. But it would be bound to provoke tensions with the party's Conservative coalition partners, who strongly oppose reform of drugs laws. The Liberal Democrats look certain to call for the immediate establishment of an expert panel to draw up plans to decriminalise all illicit substances. The proposed reform is based on legislation in Portugal, where the personal use of any controlled drug is no longer a criminal offence. Although its possession will still be illegal, users would no longer face a jail sentence or fine, but would instead be required to undergo treatment or counselling for their habit. The current penalties for dealing would remain. A motion to be debated by the conference says: "Individuals, especially young people, can be damaged both by the imposition of criminal records and by a drug habit. The priority for those addicted to all substances must be healthcare, education and rehabilitation, not punishment." It argues: "Those countries and states that have decriminalised possession of some or all drugs have not seen increased use." The motion adds that "heroin maintenance clinics" set up in Switzerland and the Netherlands as an alternative to jail for addicts have had great success in reducing crime and the prevalence of hard drugs. And it points to the call from the Global Commission on Drugs Policy, headed by the former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, for governments around the world to consider the regulation of drugs. The conference motion also suggests the expert panel prepares alternative proposals for the creation of a "strictly controlled and regulated cannabis market". Senior Liberal Democrat sources predicted last night that the motion would be overwhelmingly passed, automatically making it party policy. "This is not a proposal from a lunatic fringe," said one. "It is a recognition of the general failure of drugs policies both in Britain and across the world." A spokesman for Mr Clegg said he would "watch the debate with interest" on what was a "perfectly valid and legitimate debate for a party". The vote in favour of the moves would not guarantee their inclusion in their next election manifesto, but the party leadership made clear it was sympathetic to the calls. The Liberal Democrats have consistently argued that drug laws should be based on scientific advice, but have never committed themselves in a manifesto to decriminalisation. Danny Kushlick, the director of Transform Drug Policy Foundation, said: "We're delighted because this enables an historically taboo area to be publicly debated. It should pave the way for the other big parties to engage seriously in a non-party political way in how to deal with one of the big problems facing the UK." Last year the former Drugs minister, Bob Ainsworth, became the most senior politician to back decriminalisation. The Labour MP argued that it would be better for addicts to receive their fixes on prescription rather than relying for their supply on the criminal gangs. He said his departure from the front bench gave him the freedom to express his view that the "war on drugs has been nothing short of a disaster". Under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act, illicit substances are divided into three categories. Possession of class A drugs, which include heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, Ecstasy and LSD, carry the harshest penalties. Class B drugs include cannabis and amphtamines, while such substance as ketamine, GHB, many tranquilisers and anabolic steroids are in class C. Critics say that the categories do not accurately reflect the risks of the different substances and therefore carry little credibility with the public. Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbertoAVFC Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 I find it impossible to see how weed won't be legal in the UK within the next thirty years MAX. I honestly don't know of anybody my age who is against its use. Pretty much all my friends have tried weed, and if any of them haven't, they still see no problem in it being legalised. I suppose the problem with it is is social acceptance. Alcohol is far more harmful and costs the taxpayer possibly billions more a year, yet because it has been around in Britain for so many centuries most people of the older generation would think you're going crazy if you told them that weed is less damaging. The same generation also don't really fit alcohol into the taboo category of "recreational drug", whereas they would do for cannabis - booze is kind of an entity, whereas many people fit weed in with coke, heroin, etc. As the younger generations take up the seats on commitees and in the Commons, I'm certain that there will be little dispute as to whether weed should be legalised. Social acceptance is without a doubt the primary reason it isn't already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyC Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 i smoked weed for years pretty much every day, its only when you stop that you realise how much of a mong you are when you smoke it. Like everything though moderation is the key Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gringo Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 As the younger generations take up the seats on commitees and in the CommonsThe current generation of muppets were born in the 60s but they're still in hock to the right wing media. They we currently cultivate and grow career politicians whose only loyalty is to party and benefactors one can't see that changing in a hurry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maqroll Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 http://tinyurl.com/3vntjsw more on this topic, the NAACP has announced it's support for ending the war on drugs. If only people actually took them seriously anymore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troglodyte Posted August 7, 2011 Author VT Supporter Share Posted August 7, 2011 They're changing the law in Holland so that coffee shops will only allowed to have so many members, who must all be Dutch citizens. Therefore, no more tourists freely smoking weed in 'dam and further afield; looks like we're going to see the end of most coffee shops. Also, I can't see other countries rushing to change their laws if the stance in the Netherlands is changed this much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gringo Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 The EU court judged the dutch plans for a 'weedpass' illegal under EU laws (we're all EU citizens now, no discrimination allowed), but allowed the govt to proceed on the basis that they can ignore the law when they don't like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troglodyte Posted August 7, 2011 Author VT Supporter Share Posted August 7, 2011 So what's the situation now? I know that when I went over there in June, a guy working in a coffee shop said that his place - along with most others - would almost certainly be closing down next year because of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanishVillan Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 Portugal is cheaper and more liberal than Holland regarding cannabis. They also got better weather and could really use the money generated by taking the cannabis-throne from Holland. I don´t see them changing their laws on this as it seem to have good effects. I also remain sceptical about Holland actually changing much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gringo Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 They've got a temporary exception to EU laws whilst it's deemed to be a problem. But the way the law was framed it has to be introduced by local councils and amsterdam for some strange reason (ie 50% of their tourist income were dragging their feet) - but it has to be introduced by 2015 (I think). No doubt the EU courts will keep extending their temporary exception ad finitum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brumerican Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 Been off it for 12 months now and have saved a fortune...Which reminds me , What the hell happend to Mr WeedMcGrass ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shillzz Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 Been off it for 12 months now and have saved a fortune...Which reminds me , What the hell happend to Mr WeedMcGrass ? He never existed, he was just a figure of your imagination, fuelled by your cannabis smoking habit. :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFC_Hitz Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 Didn't he get married or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts