Cannabis - It must be time for legality.

Liam O wrote: »

It's weed, not heroin.

I'd say there are a lot of other issues that would lead to psychosis and schizophrenia in young men these days. Not saying smoking every day isn't bad, obviously everything in moderation, but eat cake or drink 8 cans every day and bad things will happen.

Also in Ireland a lot of joints would be mainly tobacco, mainly due to the fact weed is so expensive here so I would doubt that it would be the strongest stuff. Doesn't seem to be an epidemic in the likes of Denver or California, wonder why?

This is from someone who doesn't smoke weed bar the very odd occasion.

How long has it been legal in those places ?

Calarfonia maybe 15 years ?
Dever less than 10 ?

I'd give it a lot longer before anyone can make a case for or against legalization.

Arrival wrote: »

"Pot heads"

How to tell someone is old and has outdated views on drugs in one phrase

I'm in my mid 30s. Smoked throughout my early to mid 20s and have always favoured decriminalisation. But if it was legalised tomorrow, I might buy it once for the novelty, but probably never buy it again after that.

If people want to smoke it, they will find a way. Legalising it is highly unlikely to increase usage in the long run.

Adriel Teeny Furnace wrote: »

Anecdotal evidence is actual evidence, it's just not the evidence you are after.

Sure, if you want to play on words, that's up to you.

Anecdotal evidence is insufficient for anything to be approved for use as a medicine.

So if you're going to bang the medicine drum, your anecdotal evidence is worthless.

Do the research yourself, see what it does for people? Or don't, and remain ignorant. That's your choice.

No, I know perfectly well what people claim it does for them. But if you're looking for a medicine, those claims are useless.

I would be perfectly supportive of the legalisation of cannabis for therapeutic purposes - allowing GPs or psychologists to recommend it alongside yoga or socialising.
But if you're going to do that, you may as well go full legalisation.

But it can't be a medicine, regulated and sold through pharmacies, just because lots of people like it. It has to be properly tested. And you can't make claims about what it cures based on some blog that your hipster mate on facebook linked to. IT HAS TO BE PROPERLY TESTED.

Unqualified people recommending it for treating cancer and epilepsy and all sorts, are no better than people peddling homeopathy or reiki. They need to wind their neck in and realise that it's a complementary therapy, at best. It's not a medicine.

Gorgeousgeorge wrote: »

suppose anything in moderation is grand but once you go full bore at it that is where the problems start

Alcohol being the prime example.

One of the most abused drugs in history and look at the consequences.

I really dont understand it myself. The Irish Government are all about money so im actually shocked they didn't jump at the chance when it first came up. Ive seen stories about the likes of Vera Twomey and Charlotte Caldwell who have successfully gained the medication for their child so i'd say hopefully it wont be long.
Irish people need to be out protesting like the water tax instead of sitting at home giving out about it.
Nothing can stop us when we all stick together.

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Indeed... the notion that having a bunch of stoners wandering about the place is somehow going to benefit society is just nonsense.

Personally I see no reason to legalise it for general use but accept that it likely will be. I think we have enough problems with alcohol and drug abuse in this country without sanctioning it (although it's mostly about the tax and the progressive "feels"/potential votes really for the Government so Leo will probably go for it alright! :rolleyes:), and I think the presumption that all those criminals making good money off it now will just "go away" is stupid - more likely they'll graduate to petty theft and burglary to replace their incomes.

I can imagine things like driving under the influence, people being stoned at work and other such carry-on increasing dramatically after legalisation.

I really can't see any positives to it for those who don't smoke themselves.

This whole post is just nonsense really.

Do you think that the stoners are staying home and waiting till its decriminalized before they wander around the place?

You think people don't already drive around the place stoned? And oh yes people are already stoned at work too! And much more pleasant i might add than the zombified vallium/xanax crowd which is half the country these days.

LucyIrish06 wrote: »

The most stupid comment ive probably ever read, you clearly haven't got a clue what your on about. Go educate yourself

no he has a point to be fair on the criminal element.

My body, my choice.

#TrustStoners

Really interesting to hear the ex-Garda's thoughts a couple of pages back. Common sense views shaped by prior experiences is exactly whats needed. Politicians need to follow suit.

I've smoked weed pretty much everyday for the last 15 years or so (I wouldn't recommend that kind of use but medical reasons involved), I'm amazed at the scaremongering and misinformation on this thread. I can only give my own personal experience so here it is:

I am quite open and roll/smoke publicly in front of family/friends and will regularly engage in debate if somebody comments on it. I know what I'm doing is fine and am ready to defend my use.

I don't drink really, maybe once every 3/4 months. i've never used any other drug except Mushroom shakes in Thailand so I don't think its a gateway drug at all. Alcohol is the number 1 gateway drug for me, people rarely do coke etc... without a beer or two involved but I'm not saying to ban alcohol.

With regards to laziness and apathy, I play sport regularly after smoking and smoke before the gym too. I am doing my accountancy exams and go to college nights and weekends after working full time and smoke weed to help me on 6/8 hour study binges as I find it focuses my mind to one task. The lazy stoner stereotype is an uninformed lazy stereotype and doesn't fit IMO. People smoke for a thousand different reasons. Theirs a reason lots of pro sports people and ultra marathon runners smoke weed and it ain't because it makes them lazy.

I did the calculations and judging by Canada prices if legalisation occurred tomorrow I would be able to cut my costs in half which would be immeasurably helpful. I would also be able to give up tobacco as I don't smoke cigarettes at all but I have to as weed is just too expensive here to smoke blunts.

I also think people don't realise how prevalent weed is, a guy I know started selling 4 years ago and just bought a 3 bed house in Dublin (cash) and a share in a pub from his profits.

Oh and because somebody asked a few pages back, the hemp plant was originally banned because of the threat to the paper industry (and a few others as hemp has a thousand uses).

Anyway, very happy to converse with people who have questions or looking for more info on the subject.