Cannibis abuse, 500 a week in Hospital...

[Loosehead]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jse ssionid=2UPTKNWORH1K5QFIQMFSFGGAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/ news/2008/01/11/ncnbis111.xml

Is the halo slipping from the "Non addictive", "Harmless" fluffy Bunny wonder drug?

A prize for the first person to try and change the subject to booze!

[paulos66]

If you are really interested in the truth try reading The Emperor Wears No Clothes By J Herer.
And can I take the prize by mentioning casualty on Friday and Saturday night - more then 500 drunks I'd guess

[Loosehead]

congrats Paul, you win the prize. Just come to Bournemouth and I'll buy you a pint!

Any thoughts on the main question?

[paulos66]

Quite frankly I don't believe it, I've read more rubbish than I care to remember on the issue. I do believe there is an addictive element albeit not physical. Harmless - I'd say relatively in relation to legal drugs eg alcohol caffeine etc. And as for reclassifying I would first ask what you'd like to achieve by that - govt stats (yeah I know) suggest useage has fallen since dropping to a class c. I ,however, dont believe in any form of prohibition and wont until you find a drug that compels the user to commit violence, murder or rape and I'm afraid the closest we've got is your old friend alcohol - another prize please

[paulos66]

PS Can I a spliff along to Bournemouth

[jno]

can I change the subject to chewing gum?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7180800.stm

I think the key word is abuse rather than cannabis. If you overdo anything, even chewing gum, it's likely to be bad for you. But I notice the Telegraph report quotes doctors saying what cannabis 'can' rather than 'will' do.

[paulos66]

And you do realise the reports telling us about how unsafe this substance is are being funded by the same people who told us how safe the likes of thalidamide (etc) was

[Loosehead]

Well it is the Torygraph Paul, not the Mail! Do you not beleive the doctors about the Psycosis, Paranoia etc? What about the suicides and/or murders/violence under the infuence. Ok take it as read that Booze is worse ok I accept that. Oh please stop saying it's non adictive, it is I used to know a dope head guy at work who was always claiming it was non adictive but by lunch he was climbing the walls, needed a spliff badly! There are countless people who are addicted. Just look at some of the postings here about "boyfriend must have dope.....".

Oh and that's 2 pints I owe you!

[paulos66]

Loose, re-read my comment about addictiveness, then apologise and hang your head in shame. As for the studies I can find enough studies to say the opposite - most focus on THC being a factor in causing psychosis ,however, evidence suggest CBN have the opposite effect and more research needs to be done as to whether this can be used as an anti-depressant - smokers do not seperate the THC from the CBNs.
I

[Gromit]

Fantastic News.

I am pleased to see that more people are being treated for the effects of cannabis use. It is good to see that the NHS is reaching one of its targets.

As the the Department of Health says "the rising numbers of treatments reflect improvements in drug treatment and not rising cannabis use."

[Loosehead]

You are quite right Paul, I misread your post about the addictveness thing. You see most users hide behind that belief and I suppose I subconciously attributed that to you. Sorry, head hung, in shame!

[paulos66]

Loose, I recently stopped smoking tobacco and actually rattled on withdrawal - when forced to miss my other pleasure I suffer no more than mild irritation (however, I did used to believe otherwise re addictiveness)

[123everton]

By and large the people I have the most violent arguments with are druggies. Pot heads are laid back and easy going "man", b0llocks! I had murder with a gang of em only a fortnight or so ago.
What annoys me is that the for years "experts" said it's harmless and rather than admit the were wrong (that just would'nt do) they say it's new "super strength skunk" as though skunk was new.
Legalising it won't solve anything, retailers don't sell alcohol or cigarettes responsibly (to kids) so what makes you think gange would be any different? If you sell cannabis legally, there'll be tax to pay on it so there'll still be a black market in weed. The same as there is in cigarettes and alcohol.

[paulos66]

Everton, what is your point - it takes two to argue so you are as guilty as the people you were arguing with. No-one really buys into the idea that everyone who touches cannabis is the same - or did you really think that?
What benefits to society do you believe there are by keeping the control and profit from this trade in the hands of the criminal element?

[osprey88]

I smoked cannabis for 20 odd years, most of my friends still do, so I have some experience on this subject. This article ,unfortunately, bears absolutely no resemblance to the reallity of cannabise use. It seems to come from someone who has ingrained misconceptions on the subject, and therefore precludes any objectivity. This is typical of the factually inaccurate reporting of the dangers of drug use, where the writer is of the opinion that it is obligatory to show any drug use in the worst possible light, in order to somehow dissuade young people from partaking of such.
This practice is ,in my opinion, totally counter productive. If a young person in bombarded with messages about the dangers of cannabis use, then subsequently learns from personal experience that it's really quite safe, then he just may assume that the messages warning against those drugs which really are harmful, are equally overblown.
Don't treat people like idiots, give them true and unbiased facts. Let them make their own informed decisions. People have a right to decide their own fate.

[123everton]

I was working, they did't want to pay, they get on either in groups or on their own. I pull them up, and bang we're off. Druggies seem to only have 2 speeds ****** (pun intended) and maniacal.
Honestly Paul, if you get me started on crime we'll be here for a while yet. For example on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday I had bricks thrown at the vehicle, I've had several minor rows over none payment (four big ones that nearly came to blows, all druggies) I had to call the Police on 1 occasion (he gave up before they were needed), I've had gangs of kids turn the vehicle off 3 times and on Priory Road the upcoming "firm" of scrotes (all pot heads, seen em) smashed the window cutting his finger. I'm on lates this week so this is only the stuff I've gotten to hear about, more fights during the day, and I have to say it's been a quiet week.

[paulos66]

Everton, to a casual observer the common denominator in all this arguing/fighting is you.
And I'm still waiting for you to tell me the benefits of prohibition.
How do you feel about depriving MS sufferers (etc) of their medicine. to me that is a serious crime against humanity

[123everton]

The missing word is vacant with a 'u'

[123everton]

Should I let them on for nothing? Should I just say you look a bit nasty you don't have to pay? How do you get someone to pay who does'nt want to? Even after you've asked him?
A doctor could prescribe cannibis in much the same way they prescribe morphine, I don't think the question is about medicinal cannibis. Coincidentally you talk about denying treatment to sufferers you'd deny thalidomide to H.I.V. sufferers, people with certain cancers and poro(something or other Queen Victoria had it or was a carrier, little help needed there!) all of which it appears to be beneficial too. It may even be the new wonder drug of the milennium, statistically it's really quite safe. But maybe that's statitistics for you.

[paulos66]

Slightly puerile there everton

[123everton]

P.S the benefit of prohibition is that retailers can't be trusted to sell it responsibly, nor for that matter can adults buy it sensibly. Adults often buy kids drink out the offy, it'd be worse (much worse) if they can buy them drugs.
Since when did smoking a spliff become safer than a cigarette? After all it's just tobacco plus...