UK lays the law down on legal highs, three substances banned.

Tellox

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8427439.stm

Seeing as we generally copy/paste UK Law, we can expect similar to happen here. The ban on the synthetic cannaboid JWH-018 that is sprayed on 'legal weed' means that products such as "Spice" and "Smoke" will be banned. While pharmacists have already re-synthesised JWH-018 into 24 different compounds which would not be affected by a JWH-018 ban, the article itself cites "synthetic cannaboids" - inkling that anything produced to create an effect similar to cannabis, is illegal to distribute/consume.

BZP on the other hand, has been banned in Ireland for quite a while already - while no deaths have been directly linked to it (bar the case of one chap who ingested both 2 BZP pills, and a huge amount of MDMA), there have been confirmed reports of acute psychosis, and seizures. BZP is better known as the "toxic" version of MDMA, due to its generally nasty feeling during come-up, and near over-exaggerated ecstacy-like comedown effects; such as despair, insomnia, sudden physical exhaustion & dehydration (going unnoticed during the high party hours), and palpatations.

GBL, often sold as legal liquid ecstasy, or "coma in a bottle", has been outlawed following the high profile case of the death of medical student Stephanie Balcarras.

With BZP already being banned in Ireland, and GBL not really being too popular to begin with, I can't see this affecting us much if a ban came in to place - wheras legal smoke has become quite commonplace.

Imho, the banning of legal substances will just have users either switch to a similar, still legal product - or start purchasing illegal substances from street dealers. Generally, if someone wants to do something, they'll continue on doing it regardless of what big brother tells them.

On top of this, there have been no deaths directly linked to legal cannaboids (or BZP for that matter); wheras of course, tobacco and alcohol remain unscheduled. To get more pedantic on the matter, peanuts also remain unscheduled.

Would any boardsies care to weigh in on the above?

inb4 "no".

<edit> Also, for anyone remotely interested.. there's a request for a legal highs board here which is in need of support; http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055775168 </plug>

AnonoBoy

BZP is rotten. I'm glad it's banned.

I don't really smoke so I don't know what that spice/smoke stuff is like but it was probably only a matter of time before they clamped down on the stuff.

Run_to_da_hills

Another Head shop thread.

BZP is now Class A in Ireland and Class C in UK ?

Mike 1972

The BZP ban might result in proper MDMA pills becoming available again ????

Tellox

Mike 1972 wrote: »

The BZP ban might result in proper MDMA pills becoming available again ????

Unless you get a time machine and go back to the 90's, doubtful! And the BZP ban has been laid down in Ireland since earlier this year

@Anonoboy; agreed. ****ing toxic stuff.

Archeron

I like Smoke, and since I discovered it havent touched anything illegal.

I'm disappointed to hear this.

Tellox

Archeron wrote: »

I like Smoke, and since I discovered it havent touched anything illegal.

I'm disappointed to hear this.

Know a lot of people in your position - tbh I can understand the ban on BZP and GBL, since the side effects are pretty much worse than anything you'd buy off a man on the street in a long coat; there's been nothing said or done to prove that synthetic cannaboids are unsafe. Definitely not any more unsafe than tobacco.

ScumLord

I want to go up the north and try these illegal drugs.

Illegal Stuff is better and safer than legal stuff. But where it comes from is worse.

It's unfortunate that shortsighted governments can't see that consumption will remain the same while the money instead goes to gangs which fuels the feuds that fill our newspapers. They should leave the legal stuff there to take away money from the criminals.

Wompa1

Archeron wrote: »

I like Smoke, and since I discovered it havent touched anything illegal.

I'm disappointed to hear this.

When I tried that it gave me bad heart palputations and the following day when I woke up I wasn't myself. I couldn't shake it all day, was very very depressed. Probably a good idea to ban it, I assume I'm not the only one who experienced this as it says in the story it contain psycho-active chemicals

Mike 1972

I didnt like it so they should ban it (yawn)

it contain psycho-active chemicals

omigawd psychoactive chemicals........................:rolleyes:

Tellox

Wompa1 wrote: »

When I tried that it gave me bad heart palputations and the following day when I woke up I wasn't myself. I couldn't shake it all day, was very very depressed. Probably a good idea to ban it, I assume I'm not the only one who experienced this as it says in the story it contain psycho-active chemicals

It's just not for you. Just like roast potatoes aren't for me. If they don't agree with you, steer clear

edit: sorry, I really shouldnt compare roast potatoes with a semi-synthetic drug. For the record, the legal smoke really doesn't agree with me either. I just wind up sitting there confused and shakey. It not agreeing with me wouldn't lead me to tell other people it's all bad news though

PirateShampoo

Yet drink which kills more people and distroys more lives is perfectly legal because its taxed.

5starpool

Should close all those 'Head Shops' altogether. Anywhere that calls itself a Head Shop and doesn't offer blowjobs has to be bad.

Wompa1

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Yet drink which kills more people and distroys more lives is perfectly legal because its taxed.

I'm of two minds on legalising. I think the people that are already f**ked from it will just become more f**ked so no biggie at least they will pay tax for the privledge and the economy might improve. Of course though I'd look at a place like Amsterdam and think would I want Galway to become like that or would it?

I think it was on Channel 4 or BBC about legalising and they were saying the main distributors of cannabis in Amsterdam were Turkish gangsters. You can pay your taxes and still be thugs I guess.

I have a friend that went to New Zealand a couple of years ago and said everyone was on something over there. So if it becomes as common as cigarettes say what could that do to society? People that are high are very very annoying! It would be like being stuck in a bad Cheech and Chong movie!

PirateShampoo

Bill Hicks - Alcohol vs Marijunana

This man speaks the truth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFHU1X1PED4

Mike 1972

Wompa1 wrote: »

So if it becomes as common as cigarettes say what could that do to society?

Thats hardly going to happen. Do you seriously envisage workplaces having "shooting up" breaks ?

ScumLord

Wompa1 wrote: »

I'm of two minds on legalising. I think the people that are already f**ked from it will just become more f**ked so no biggie at least they will pay tax for the privledge and the economy might improve. Of course though I'd look at a place like Amsterdam and think would I want Galway to become like that or would it?

I think it was on Channel 4 or BBC about legalising and they were saying the main distributors of cannabis in Amsterdam were Turkish gangsters. You can pay your taxes and still be thugs I guess.

The only way Galway could end up like Amsterdam (in the sense of the drugs tourist, we'd never end up with their planning and infastructure) is if we where to set up a coffeshop system. Portugal has more progressive drugs laws than the Netherlands but they don't have coffeshops and won't becuase they want to avoid the drug tourist. If we did change the law we could change it to anything we want.

I'd like to see drugs only made available through a membership club so that people have to take drugs socially and it's not open to walk ins off the street.

I don't know where people get this seedy image for Amsterdam, outside of the redlight it's a lovely city, with lovely parks excellent public transport and friendly people.

Amalgam

What about the likes of Mephedrone in Ireland, what's the legal status?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mephedrone

PirateShampoo

I think legalizing it is a good idea just has long tight laws where brought in with it also.

No smoking it in public (in line with the smoking ban), mandatory driving bans if your caught driving on it. Laws on growing your own (like the moonshine laws)

There would be a massive business boost from it also, with registered growers and suppliers etc.

Tellox

Amalgam wrote: »

What about the likes of Mephedrone in Ireland, what's the legal status?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mephedrone

legal, due to it being a ketone.

rizzla

Are truffles legal here? Amsterdam got around the mushroom ban by selling truffles.

This could be taken out of context

Pace2008

rizzla wrote: »

Are truffles legal here? Amsterdam got around the mushroom ban by selling truffles.

This could be taken out of context

Psilocybin and its esters are banned in Ireland, and as this is the active ingredient in truffles they're illegal.

AnonoBoy

Sixteen posts in before Bill Hicks got mentioned.

Is there some manner of Hick's Law, similar to Godwin's law, that relates to threads about drugs?

Pace2008

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Sixteen posts in before Bill Hicks got mentioned.

Is there some manner of Hick's Law, similar to Godwin's law, that relates to threads about drugs?

'Cannabis is not a drug, it's a herb....'

Yeah, I hate it too.

PirateShampoo

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Sixteen posts in before Bill Hicks got mentioned.

Is there some manner of Hick's Law, similar to Godwin's law, that relates to threads about drugs?

Because the man articulates the point better than most of us can.

Dont you think he has a valid point?

AnonoBoy

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Because the man articulates the point better than most of us can.

Dont you think he has a valid point?

A lot of his points are bang on the money. I've nothing against Bill Hicks. He was a damn fine comedian but that's all he was, a comedian. The man didn't have all the answers.

It's just irritating the way he gets trotted out in threads and in conversations constantly.

As soon as someone falls back on "You should watch Bill Hicks and maybe you'll learn something" if they're losing an argument I feel like taking the other side just to annoy them. It's great fun and something I think Bill Hicks would thoroughly approve of.

Pace2008

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Because the man articulates the point better than most of us can.

Dont you think he has a valid point?

I do agree with some of what he has to say, but he's just a man expressing his opinions based on his own subjective experience with drugs. It's not like his work is based on meta-analyses of peer-reviewed scientific literature.

Mike 1972

Pace2008 wrote: »

'Cannabis is not a drug, it's a herb....'

Yeah, I hate it too.

+1

While Im strongly pro-legalisation I cant stand those gobdaws who say things like "Cannabis isint really a drug" -lets not delude ourselves here.

Wompa1

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Thats hardly going to happen. Do you seriously envisage workplaces having "shooting up" breaks ?

Shooting up what? wouldn't expect heroin legalised!!

Wompa1

ScumLord wrote: »

The only way Galway could end up like Amsterdam (in the sense of the drugs tourist, we'd never end up with their planning and infastructure) is if we where to set up a coffeshop system. Portugal has more progressive drugs laws than the Netherlands but they don't have coffeshops and won't becuase they want to avoid the drug tourist. If we did change the law we could change it to anything we want.

I'd like to see drugs only made available through a membership club so that people have to take drugs socially and it's not open to walk ins off the street.

I don't know where people get this seedy image for Amsterdam, outside of the redlight it's a lovely city, with lovely parks excellent public transport and friendly people.

I shouldn't have said anything about Amsterdam, I was going off of my brothers pictures and stories over there. Never been myself. I didn't know that about Portugal. Interesting. Galway is already gone to the dogs with potheads anyway...when times were good most people around here didn't work

Mike 1972

Wompa1 wrote: »

Galway is already gone to the dogs with potheads anyway

Id rather a place full of potheads than a place full of drunks

(cue smart@r$€ "what about drunk potheads ?" response)

Wompa1

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Id rather a place full of potheads than a place full of drunks

(cue smart@r$€ "what about drunk potheads ?" response)

Not sure I'd agree plus this place is full of drunks!

ScumLord

Wompa1 wrote: »

Not sure I'd agree plus this place is full of drunks!

What is it you dislike so much about someone who's stoned that you'd rather put up with drunk that could likely be load and violent over stoners.

People have a great dislike of people who use weed and I don't understand what it's based on.

consultech

AnonoBoy wrote: »

I've nothing against Bill Hicks. He was a damn fine comedian but that's all he was, a comedian. The man didn't have all the answers.

It's just irritating the way he gets trotted out in threads and in conversations constantly.

+1

tbh I've tired of Hicks as I mature further and further away from my student days. His societally inconsiderate liberal claptrap just vexes me now.

Wompa1

ScumLord wrote: »

What is it you dislike so much about someone who's stoned that you'd rather put up with drunk that could likely be load and violent over stoners.

People have a great dislike of people who use weed and I don't understand what it's based on.

My brother is more aggressive high than when he's drunk. I guess it's just me, I probably know people that hold drink better than they do weed...if your sober and someone is high it's pretty crap...there's only so much nonsense you can listen too

ScumLord

Wompa1 wrote: »

My brother is more aggressive high than when he's drunk. I guess it's just me, I probably know people that hold drink better than they do weed...if your sober and someone is high it's pretty crap...there's only so much nonsense you can listen too

If your sober around a drunk it's no barrel of laughs either. Your brothers reaction to weed is odd, it doesn't suit everyone though it's up to the individual to deal with that.

Mike 1972

Wompa1 wrote: »

My brother is more aggressive high than when he's drunk. I guess it's just me, I probably know people that hold drink better than they do weed...

Fair enough not everyone gets all chilled out on love and peace on the stuff as is commonly assumed but.........

Wompa1 wrote: »

if your sober and someone is high it's pretty crap...there's only so much nonsense you can listen too

Couldnt you say the exact thing about being sober in the company of drunk people ? While it can be somewhat entertaining initially it stops being amusing pretty quickly.

R0ot

Back to cheesing I go so.

Wompa1

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Fair enough not everyone gets all chilled out on love and peace on the stuff as is commonly assumed but.........



Couldnt you say the exact thing about being sober in the company of drunk people ? While it can be somewhat entertaining initially it stops being amusing pretty quickly.

Your right. I don't like being sober around drunk. But I think there is a drink problem in this country which should be addressed properly too.

Sea Sharp

Weed and mushies are part of our heritage.

Ii'm a bit confused as to the implications of this new law. I thought all the legal weeds were legally sold as incense. What is the exact definition for a cannaboid?

4zn76tysfajdxp

Wompa1 wrote: »

I was going off of my brothers pictures and stories

Pervert.

slipss

GaNjaHaN wrote: »

Ii'm a bit confused as to the implications of this new law. I thought all the legal weeds were legally sold as incense. What is the exact definition for a cannaboid?

They are sold as incense ect but it will be illegal to sell them altogether now. Just like you couldn't sell cannabis if you called it incense.

Mike 1972

Wompa1 wrote: »

I think there is a drink problem in this country which should be addressed properly too.

Not disagreeing with you on this point but are you suggesting prohibition of alcohol as well :eek:

itsallaboutheL

Wompa1 wrote: »

But I think there is a drink problem in this country which should be addressed properly too.

I agree i two hands and only one mouth...

****in government would want to get off their collective arses and sort this out..

2 mouths ftw.