Why is cannabis illegal?

Little Less Conversation

It's just a plant.

TheValeyard

Little Less Conversation wrote: »

It's just a plant.

Party thyme

mad muffin

Because the powers that be deem it so.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Makes you a lazy, unmotivated stoner. And causes psychosis.

Noveight

Why can't I drink and drive?

Alcohol's just a liquid.

gctest50

Little Less Conversation wrote: »

It's just a plant.

Try some amanita - it's just a mushroom

SEPT 23 1989

Hemp was a threat to big industry in the 20's and 30's in America

Allinall

It’s not illegal.

When have you ever seen a joint or a cannibas plant up in court on charges?

s7ryf3925pivug

Is the plant illegal?

It doesn't agree with everyone. Some people's mental health suffers quite badly from it. The most common reason for readmission to a psych ward is using it.

Other people just get lazy and self-indulgent, or a bit gullible.

People dismiss the dangers associated with it and that can lead to bad things happening. It would be good if people didn't assume just because it doesn't affect them a certain way that it is safe for everyone.... Or even that just because it doesn't affect their friends a certain way that it's safe for them. People get militant and defensive if you say it doesn't suit everyone.

I agree it should be made legal and regulated. I don't see any benefit to its illegality. It's easy to get, but might be hard to find safer forms of it. (eg. cbd to thc content and freedom from dangerous contaminants.)

Junkyard Tom

Because we're governed by cowards and hypocrites.

Kidchameleon

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy wrote: »

Makes you a lazy, unmotivated stoner. And causes psychosis.

I can make you lazy, but the are plenty of lazy people who dont take it. It doesnt cause psychosis but it can bring on latent psychosis

I used to really look forward to winding down at night with a joint in the privacy of my own home, or having a quick smoke before I went out to listen to a good band. I would drink less, without a doubt.


If it was made legal I think it could take it off the black market. If it was regulated like in Canada for example, then it would not be worth trying to grow it to sell illegally, or to smuggle it into the country.

Franz Von Peppercorn

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Hemp was a threat to big industry in the 20's and 30's in America

It’s something that can be sold. Capitalists like selling

posturingpat

According to all the stoners i know its because of Vintners.

Man

Macdarack

Is the depression and violence drink causes a bigger negative than lazyness and latent bit of paranoia that cannabis causes?
It's a cliché at this stage but I've never heard of a man betin the wife after a few joints.

simongurnick

Just gone legal here in Canada. The right way to go in my opinion.

KevinCavan

A lot of states in the U.S. have legalized it, as well as Canada largely legalizing it. So like everything else, we are 20 years behind the curve, it should be legal here in some areas of Ireland by 2039.

Franz Von Peppercorn

KevinCavan wrote: »

A lot of states in the U.S. have legalized it, as well as Canada largely legalizing it. So like everything else, we are 20 years behind the curve, it should be legal here in some areas of Ireland by 2039.

If Canada drove into a lake would we have to follow.

DaverageJoe

Because the young lads will get hold of it and start mitching school.

RWCNT

Little Less Conversation wrote: »

It's just a plant.

Apt username for man of few words.

goose2005

so is the opium poppy

c.p.w.g.w

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy wrote: »

Makes you a lazy, unmotivated stoner. And causes psychosis.

Only proven to do that if consumed while an adolescent

kneemos

goose2005 wrote: »

so is the opium poppy

Yes son.

It is.

atilladehun

KevinCavan wrote: »

A lot of states in the U.S. have legalized it, as well as Canada largely legalizing it. So like everything else, we are 20 years behind the curve, it should be legal here in some areas of Ireland by 2039.

There was some documentary on tv a few weeks back. They interviewed doctors in the areas that have legalised it. They reckon they are dealing with more mental health cases since its come in.

c.p.w.g.w

atilladehun wrote: »

There was some documentary on tv a few weeks back. They interviewed doctors in the areas that have legalised it. They reckon they are dealing with more mental health cases since its come in.

Vast Majority were teens if it's the same one I saw recently. THC affects the brains in teenagers, as their brains are still developing

tuxy

What about the approach they have in Portugal?
Decriminalised(not legalised) the use of all drugs. Money previously spent on enforcement is now spent on treatment.

kneemos

Did they stop prosecuting for small amounts in the UK?
They give a warning or something.

Mysterypunter

Because the government don't get tax from it.

pleas advice

tuxy

kneemos wrote: »

Did they stop prosecuting for small amounts in the UK?
They give a warning or something.

If you talking about the early 2000s it was downgraded to class C which really reduced the consequences of being caught in possession of cannabis.

They have since changed it back to class B, no idea why.

StereoSound

It will compete with the brewerys too much and the government will lose money.

FanadMan

I was a heavy smoker in my late teens/early twenties. Was also suffering from depression (found out years later that I was bipolar). I moved abroad for a while and was smoking stronger strains or hybrids. Found that I became very paranoid when stoned. I now feel sick whenever someone even lights up a joint or bong.

In saying that, I would be in favour of decriminalisation. I know that it can ease the pain of MS sufferers or people receiving chemo. I wish it was available for my mother who died of cancer. She went through two bouts of chemo and was only a shell of her former self and her last days in the local hospice could have been made easier with marijuana. It's easy to get and easy to administer and would have left her more lucid than being heavily dosed with morphine. I know it's not a cure-all for everything from a verruca to terminal cancer like all the advocates say but it does have its uses and should be available medically or at least ignored by the Gardai.

Captain Obvious

tuxy wrote: »

What about the approach they have in Portugal?
Decriminalised(not legalised) the use of all drugs. Money previously spent on enforcement is now spent on treatment.

Our health service isn't ideal and it doesn't tackle to issues pushing people to drugs in the first place. I'd only support that in line with a wider plan to tackle addiction.

Graces7

tuxy wrote: »

What about the approach they have in Portugal?
Decriminalised(not legalised) the use of all drugs. Money previously spent on enforcement is now spent on treatment.

That is crazy "logic"!

Spunge

Allinall wrote: »

It’s not illegal.

When have you ever seen a joint or a cannibas plant up in court on charges?

I was in court on monday for 1 gram of weed.
200 fine + 400e solicitor fees.

judge was pretty harsh on weed charges

GrumpyMe

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

If Canada drove into a lake would we have to follow.

If Canada perfected fusion should we not follow? :rolleyes:

Franz Von Peppercorn

StereoSound wrote: »

It will compete with the brewerys too much and the government will lose money.

If it’s legal it could be taxed.

evil_seed

Cos hemp vs paper back in the day. /thread

Wanderer78

Just bloody legalise it, the countries awash with it anyway

Franz Von Peppercorn

Captain Obvious wrote: »

Our health service isn't ideal and it doesn't tackle to issues pushing people to drugs in the first place. I'd only support that in line with a wider plan to tackle addiction.

We spend millions on this already. There’s only so much you can do with determined addicts.

Franz Von Peppercorn

evil_seed wrote: »

Cos hemp vs paper back in the day. /thread

Naw. Hemp paper can have all THC removed. It’s more expensive.

chrissb8

I don't like the blanket statement cannabis is bad. It's a diverse plant with many strains that many people can find their happy medium with.

People I hear having bad episodes I wonder if they had an extremely strong strain. Did they simply ingest it the wrong way with too much in a joint or too much in an edible?

The statement "it's just not for me" is fine but I do think if some of these people could walk into a store and be educated on what various strains do, strength etc. It would change alot of people's mind.

It's just the mystery around it and sometimes I smoke and think I really hate this so much. I feel out of my head, anxious the next few days and in general just out of it. Then sometimes I smoke some different stuff and think this is amazing I'm so relaxed, in a good mood, inspired and motivated to do something creative.

Big thing for me is that it's such a wonderful diverse plant with a myraid of options it would be a shame for people to discount it on the basis of the bad traits. Which are completely relevant, sometimes but not all the time. Just like you would have 5 pints over a bottle of vodka there are levels to it.

The Caveman

I work in the IFSC in Dublin

Quite often I walk down Talbot street. Friday's at 5 pm, it is like a long hotbox. A lot of people is smoking openly. Also, funny enough, most of them wear matching tracksuits.

Gardi does absolutely nothing about them, as I was walking behind 2 Gardi, and I could see the smokers, and smell them.

But, I am 100% sure, if I were to join them, wearing a suit, I will be stopped, searched, and be in trouble.

But, I just don't get involved with this...

so, if you wear a tracksuit, your name might be Anto, it is already legal...

now, just legalise it for the rest of us.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

Historically a dovetailing of economic and ideological reasons, in which race and racism played a big part. Currently because of a whole bunch of things, habit, political fear, industrial factors.

The war on drugs is a very obviously busted flush, prohibition doesn't work and anyone with half a brain has to grasp that, it's caused more harm than it's prevented.

That said, as someone who's occasionally enjoyed a fairly broad selection of drugs and loves a smoke of an evening, the conversation has to be a bit more nuanced than "legalise it, it cures cancer and epilepsy and scabies, boooo big pharmacy, 420 for life!" which is just the flip side of the stupid coin from "drugs are bad things for stupid losers it makes you insane, my cousin's boyfriend's brother's son smoked a drug and thought he could fly and now he's on the DOLE"

Hammer89

Spunge wrote: »

I was in court on monday for 1 gram of weed.
200 fine + 400e solicitor fees.

judge was pretty harsh on weed charges

Ridiculous.

Wanderer78

Hammer89 wrote: »

Ridiculous.

at least theyve learned their lesson, and wont do it again!:D

Franz Von Peppercorn

Ricky Tasty Bubble wrote: »

my cousin's boyfriend's brother's son smoked a drug and thought he could fly and now he's on the DOLE"

I’m sorry to hear about your cousins boyfriend. Maybe he should have stayed off the weed?

RWCNT

It's all Big Pharma and the illuminati conspiring OP. They know that weed both prevents and cures all diseases and they want to keep getting rich off selling drugs and vaccines that give you cancer and turn people gay, which is part of George Soros' plan to destroy western civilisation.

Graces7

Graces7 wrote: »

That is crazy "logic"!

Nah. The crazy logic is one is solving a problem linking a health & safety issue to the criminal justice system.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

The benefits of legalisation far outweigh the negatives. Colorado and Amsterdam being good examples.

It is a waste of resources and it is idiotic giving people convictions who would otherwise be 'law abiding' citizens.

It is the most futile of fights that the Drug Squad are involved in. It is not possible to police. Weed plants can be extremely easily grown in every house, garden field or wood in the country. Same way alcohol can be brewed anywhere by anyone.

Heroin and Cocaine cannot be produced in this country, and have more adverse affects on the end user, and is far more profitable for organised crime. So trying to combat them can make at least some sort of rational sense.

tuxy

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

The benefits of legalisation far outweigh the negatives. Colorado and Amsterdam being good examples.

Heroin and Cocaine cannot be produced in this country, and have more adverse affects on the end user, and is far more profitable for organised crime. So trying to combat them can make at least some sort of rational sense.

Your post is confusing you list a state where it is legalised at a local level but highly illegal at a federal level. Then you list a city where it is decriminalised. Two very different things. Which approach are you advocating?

Also if the opium poppy can be farmed in the UK to meet shortages of morphine what's to stop it growing here. Is our climate really that different?