Cannabis should be legalized in Ireland To pull Our country out of ression

( quoted ) See, this is the problem and in my opinion the main reason weed will never be legalised here. The vast majority of the people who are in favour of legalisation come up with ridiculous barely researched ideas and can't spell.

ok thats why the fella that invented apple computers smoked weed .. the fella who owns cnn news smokes a joint a day ,,, come off that 1 ,,

barley researched ..theres over 100 years of research ...
just that some people to thick to open there eyes

you will always find some one who gets high does not cause trouble and that is a fact as it makes people pacifists

Q: Is cannabis poisonous? / Is there a fatal dose? A: No. It has been established that there is no conceivable toxic amount of cannabis for human beings. Medicinal substances frequently have a dosage above which death may follow after consumption. This quantity is known as the LD-50 rating - that is the dose above which 50 per cent of animals tested dies. It has never been possible to give enough cannabis to an animal to kill it. It is estimated that the LD-50 for cannabis is around 1:20,000, which means that an average human would have to be given at least 20,000 times as much cannabis as is contained in the average joint or spliff. Based upon the dosage supplied to patients on the NIDA program in the USA, this would mean consumption of some 1500 pounds in weight of cannabis within 15 minutes to induce death. This of course is impossible and cannabis can accurately be described as non-toxic.
The figure of 20,000, sometimes quoted as 40,000, was based upon research carried out in the laboratory on mice using concentrated THC.

Q: What are the penalties for cannabis?
A: For possession, ion the UK, anything from a caution to five years with or without a fine up to £2500. For cultivation, supply, possession with intent, importation and conspiracy (including being concerned or knowingly involved with any of these offences), up to 15 years in prison with an unlimited fine and confiscation of assets. In Holland the sentences for even huge amounts are relatively light. In some countries even the death penalty is a possibility.
In India the law is so crazy that there is a maximum sentence of 5 years for over 5 grams of ganja (herb) but a MINIMUM sentence of 10 years for over 5 grams of charas (resin).

Q:: What are the dangers of smoking cannabis?
A: Mixing it with tobacco.
Getting arrested.
Health hazards from impurities.
Being offered drugs.
Becoming a social outcast = persecution.
Conviction = criminal record, banned from USA, Australia etc.
All prohibition created problems.

Q: Is cannabis at all dangerous?
A: Of course, everything has some danger. You can drown in water, air starts fires, and you can choke on a sweet. Cannabis is about as dangerous as the same sized piece of wood. You could hit somebody with a large lump. However, cannabis was described, by DEA Administrator Judge Francis Young, as one of the safest of substances.

Q: Is decriminalisation a step in the right direction? A: No. Decriminalisation is simple turning a blind eye to small time users or growers. It simply avoids the real issues of control. Cannabis quality could not be tested. We want the weed to be free. We want it sold by reputable dealers with their profits taxed. We do not want limits on the amount possessed or amount of plants cultivated.

Q: What about synthetic cannabis?
A: Research is continuing to produce medicinal cannabis substances that do not give a high when consumed. Cannabis is a holistic plant - the whole plant is necessary. Synthetic 'drugs' such as Nabilone are considered virtually useless compared with natural cannabis and can have unpleasant side effects such as depression. Cannabis usually alleviates depression.

Q: In third world countries the poor and unemployed are seen sitting smoking cannabis, they never seem to get anything together and remain poor. Isn't this an effect of cannabis? That is, does the use of cannabis a-motivate?
A: No. The reverse is true. Because they are poor and unemployed they have time to sit and smoke. Cannabis grows wild in many of these countries. They smoke it because it helps them stay happy in their positions. In the same countries many working people smoke cannabis. You do not see them on the streets because they work and smoke at home. The same is true in Britain & Ireland

Below are notes on some of the most common medical uses of cannabis.
Arthritis: In 1994 the ‘Times’ reported; ‘The demand for Cannabis among British pensioners has stunned doctors, police and suppliers. The old people use the drug to ease the pain of such ailments as arthritis and rheumatism. Many are running afoul of the law for the first time in their lives as they try to obtain suppliers.’
Arthritis affects the joints and surrounding areas, including muscles, membrane linings and cartilage. It causes painful inflammation, heat, swelling, pain, redness of skin and tenderness in the affected areas. Cortisone-type drugs provide dramatic pain relief for short periods but decrease in effectiveness if used over time. The side effects of these drugs include nausea, restlessness, insomnia, dizziness, headache, depression and mood swings, irregular heartbeat and menstruation problems. Several cannabinoids have both analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory effects, a combination particularly helpful for arthritic people. Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the main active ingredients in cannabis is a very effective anti-inflammatory agent. Cannabis can be smoked or eaten to relieve the general pain, inflammation and discomfort of arthritis. Cannabis poultices can be applied topically to troubled areas. Cannabis in alcohol or as a cream can also be rubbed on the skin.
Appetite Loss, Nausea, Cancer Chemotherapy, AIDS Wasting Syndrome: One of the most outstanding medical values of cannabis is the role it can play in restoring a person’s relationship to food. Cannabis is remarkably powerful in combating nausea and vomiting, making it possible to consume food and hold it down. It is also an extraordinary stimulant of appetite itself; a condition known by cannabis users as ‘the munchies’. Conditions characterised by nausea, vomiting, appetite problems and severe weight loss include AIDS Wasting Syndrome, kidney failure, tuberculosis, hyperemesis gravidarum (magnified form of morning sickness) and anorexia and the side effects of chemotherapy.
Nausea From Cancer Chemotherapy: Nausea and vomiting, which can last for days after a single treatment and be so violent as to threaten to break bones and rupture the aesophagus, are common side effects of the chemotherapies used in treating cancer. Many patients develop such an aversion to the site or odor of food that they stop eating altogether and lose the will to live. Up to 40% of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy do not respond to the standard treatment for preventing vomiting. These use expensive ‘antiemetics’ drugs such as ‘Zofran’ (which must be administered by intravenous drip and cost £250+ a treatment). ‘Marinol’ which uses THC was approved after much resistance in the USA in 1986. It is effective in many cases where other drugs have failed. Smoking or eating cannabis also seems to provide relief where standard treatments fail. The effectiveness of cannabis in treating nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy is dose-related. The higher the blood levels of THC, the more complete the relief of vomiting. Lester Grinspoon, M.D. has calculated that using cannabis to treat chemotherapy nausea would cost about one percent as much as treatment with Zofran.
Glaucoma: The usual treatment is eye drops containing drugs called ‘beta-blockers’. While effective they can cause depression, exacerbate asthma, decrease heart rate and increase danger of heart failure. The most common form of glaucoma, ‘open angle glaucoma’ happens when the channels that carry fluid out of the eyeball gradually become narrower causing the intra ocular pressure to increase slowly over time, damaging the optic nerve that relays signals from the eye to the brain and resulting in blindness. Fortunately, it can be treated with cannabis. Cannabis relieves symptoms by reducing intra ocular pressure, thereby slowing down the progress of the condition, sometimes bringing it to a complete halt. The pressure relieving effects achieved by using cannabis last for four to five hours.
Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple Sclerosis destroys the sheathing that protects nerve fibres, interfering with the function of the nervous system. The victim suffers painful muscle spasms, loss of coordination, tremors, paralysis, insomnia, mood swings and depression, blurred vision, impotence, loss of bladder control and more. There are three types; fairly mild and does not get worse over time; one which gets worse slowly; and one which gets rapidly worse once it appears. Many suffers end up using wheelchairs. Modern medicine has failed to find an effective treatment for the overall condition although various drugs give short-term relief of different symptoms. Valium or similar tranquilizers are used to treat muscle spasms but have there associated side effect of addiction, and doses often have to be increased sharply over time (good for profits if nothing else). MS patients who use cannabis report a soothing of the painful muscle spasms and improved muscle coordination. Some are able to walk unaided when they were previously unable to do so. It also helps blurred vision, tremors, loss of bladder control, insomnia and depression.
Depression: Depression can be a very depressing state of mind to be in, and can include pessimism, hopelessness, despair, loss of interest in life, boredom and sadness. Symptoms include insomnia or excessive sleeping, loss of appetite or over eating, decreased sex drive, constipation, listlessness, chronic tiredness, difficulty with concentration and decision making, and irritability. About 30% of patients with depression respond badly to antidepressants or find the side effects intolerable. A significant difference between the two is that the mood lifting effects of cannabis occur within a few minutes of smoking or about an hour after ingesting while pharmaceutical antidepressants usually take several days or weeks to kick in - and the same or longer to safely get off them.
Movement Disorders: Diseases characterised by impaired motor function and difficulties with muscle control. Conventional drug treatments are not very effective and can have very bad side effects. Cannabis has proved to be surprisingly helpful. Research indicates that the reason may have something to do with the presence of receptors for cannabinoids in the ‘basal ganglia’, a part of the nervous system involved in the coordination of movement.
Parkinson’s Disease: A movement disorder closely associated with the aging process, thought to be caused by abnormalities in the ‘basal ganglia’ and deterioration of the brain systems associated with the brain chemical ‘dopamine’ which is involved in movement and motor control. Levels of dopamine decline with ageing. Conventional treatments include ‘Deprenyl’, ‘Bromocriptine’ and ‘L-dopa’, all drugs which increase levels of dopamine in the nervous system. ‘L-dopa’, the most frequently used of these treatments, may actually increase damage to parts of the brain involved in dopamine production. It does not slow down the progression of the disease or increase life expectancy. Its side effects include most of the symptoms of the disease it is intended to treat! These include nausea, loss of libido, vomiting, irritability, insomnia, loss of appetite, headache, dystonias, and muscle spasms. Cannabis has demonstrated a beneficial impact on all of them. However ‘Cannabidiol’ one of the active agents of cannabis may aggravate the ‘hypokinesia’, or overall lack of movement associated with Parkinson’s.
Dystonia: Dystonias are a group of movement disorders characterised by abnormal body movements and postures. Their causes can be a side effect of medicines used to treat psychotic conditions and Parkinson’s disease. Cannabis has been shown to be helpful for dystonia in studies with both humans and animals when conventional drugs are rarely effective and have dangerous side effects. Cannabis used in conjunction with standard medications can help achieve a more effective overall treatment.
Chronic Pain: One of the most difficult problems for health practitioners to treat. Conventional medicine uses opiate-type drugs such as codeine. Opiates are highly addictive and dosages have to be increased to remain effective, increasing the addiction. Much addiction has its roots in pain being self medication conscious or not. Non-addictive painkillers are also available, but they are often not strong enough to provide adequate pain relief! The painkilling properties of Cannabis (THC) are comparable to those of codeine and other commonly used painkillers without the side effects or risk of addiction. Studies have found that the dose of THC required to kill pain was far smaller than the amount of codeine required to give the same level of relief. Amazingly the same dosage of cannabis has a consistently stronger painkilling effect for experienced users of cannabis than for inexperienced users. This is the opposite of a development of tolerance! A single dose can relieve pain for several hours. Eating is often more effective than smoking and the effects last longer. However, the use of cannabis and opiates is not necessarily an either-or issue. If cannabis is used in an ongoing regime of medication, opiates could be added or substituted during periods when pain levels rise. Conversely, if opiates are used as the basis of the ongoing regime, cannabis could be added when pain levels rise , avoiding the need to increase the dosages of opiates being used and the associated dangers.
Diabetes: Insulin is excreted from the beta islet cells of the pancreas. Insulin, a natural body chemical, floods the body after a sugar-rich meal and causes various cell types to dramatically increase their uptake of glucose, a common sugar. The effect of insulin is to reduce the levels of glucose in the bloodstream. Diabetes can result from the body’s inability to produce sufficient quantities of insulin or from an inability to respond properly to the insulin that is produced. In either case, many of the clinical effects of diabetes stem from the deleterious effects of high blood sugar.
There is some anecdotal evidence that cannabis lowers blood sugar. AIDS and cancer patients, among other cannabis users, often report an increase in appetite after consuming cannabis, and a few reports indicate that smoking cannabis can lower blood sugar in diabetics.
A study (Tracy Blevins phd) was undertaken to determine whether this effect can be detected using an easily available over the counter blood glucose testing kit.

Aspirin Side Effects

Although it can be helpful for those at high risk or those who have suffered a heart event, aspirin side effects can be quite serious and it is certainly not for everyone. Before you start taking aspirin, make sure you understand the risks involved and what alternatives you have.

What are the aspirin side effects?
It's important to realize that aspirin is a drug, just like other over-the-counter and prescription medications. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID. As such, there are definitely adverse reactions to contend with.

Some of the most common aspirin side effects are stomach pain, heart burn, nausea and vomiting. An aspirin overdose or higher dosage than recommended can cause very serious health issues.

With short-term use for specific problems, aspirin has been shown to be effective and does not present significant health risks. However, long-term use can lead to many problems.

It is one of the leading causes of gastrointestinal tract complications, including micro-bleeding and ulcers. There is also a small but very serious risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

I don't think I have a heart condition...should I take aspirin as a preventative measure?
According to recent studies, probably not. Research shows that aspirin might cause as many problems as it's supposed to prevent.

One of the recently discovered aspirin side effects is aspirin-induced asthma, which could effect up to 21% off all those who regularly take it or other NSAIDs. This discovery was based on 66 medical papers dating back to 1964.

According to a new study in the British Medical Journal, many people who regularly take aspirin still suffer from heart problems, giving birth to a new condition: aspirin resistance.

So as far as a preventative measure, you are probably much better off with a safer alternative to an aspirin blood thinner that can reduce inflammation without aspirin side effects.

just because it has side affects that does not mean it should be banned ,,

think of all the industrial uses for cannabis

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Presently, hemp cultivation is banned under federal law. Even new strains of hemp, which have a THC level so low that they would be of no value to the drug culture whatsoever, are illegal for growth in the U.S.
The horrible hoax here is that industrial hemp is allowed for in both the 1937 Marijuana Tax Stamp Act, and the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. “The term marihuana means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds, or resin -- but shall not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination.” [/FONT] [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]Industrial hemp cannot be grown, however, without a federal permit issued by the DEA. And although the DEA claims to consider all requests, no one has legitimately grown hemp on mainland U.S. soil since 1958 due to prohibitive regulations imposed by the DEA!
The reason is this; you cannot manufacture a mature stalk! From the time of planting to the time of maturity you are manufacturing a controlled substance, marijuana. Even the seed, which is unsterilized, is considered a controlled substance. And when the few people who have attempted to grow industrial hemp have had their crops analyzed by the DEA, the plants are not tested for their THC levels but solely for whether or not they are marijuana. Which they always are! [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]For the simple act of growing cannabis in America, individuals can lose their jobs and their parental rights, have their properties and assets seized and forfeited, and receive enormous bails, fines and prison sentences with no chance of parole. Under the 1988 Anti-Drug Abuse Act, the federal government can impose the death sentence for a marijuana farming enterprise, even if no violent crime has occurred. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]Elsewhere in the world, countries in Asia, the European Community, and recently Canada legally farm hemp for textiles, plastics, food, beer, paper, oil and other products. And, in spite of its illegalization in the U.S., both Virginia and Montana have formally called for an end to the federal ban on hemp. Virginia's resolution states "that the histories of the United States and Virginia are replete with examples of the utility of and dependence on industrial hemp, which was legally cultivated in Virginia and in many other states until the 1930s." Hawaii is currently experimenting with industrial hemp cultivation, and New Mexico, Minnesota, West Virginia, Kentucky and Vermont all have passed laws to start experimental hemp cultivation. Other states -- New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Tennessee, to name a few -- are also considering pro-industrial hemp laws. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial] The federal government’s response came in the ONDCP Statement on Industrial Hemp (1997): "Hemp is a novelty product with limited sustainable development value even in a novelty market. For every proposed use of industrial hemp, there already exists an available product, or raw material, which is cheaper to manufacture and provides better results. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]"In conclusion," the statement continues, "legalizing hemp production would send a confusing message to our youth concerning marijuana. Also it may lead to the de facto legalization of marijuana cultivation. To date, production of hemp appears to offer no relief to farmers or manufacturers of textiles or paper as an alternative crop or product. Certainly any new credible evidence should be given careful consideration. However, the current available facts do not support hemp cultivation as a legally or economically viable option for U.S. interests. ONDCP therefore does not consider it prudent to change the current status of Cannabis Sativa as a controlled Schedule 1 drug." [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]The USDA followed with the Agriculture Department’s Economic Research Service Study: "Hemp, the non-hallucinogenic cousin of marijuana, can be used for both clothing and food, but there would be a ‘small, thin market’ for the crop. All of the hemp fiber, yarn, and fabric that the U.S. currently imports could be grown on less than 2,000 acres of land." [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial] First, hemp is not marijuana’s "cousin" (as if the two were totally different plants). Marijuana is the leaf and the fruit of the cannabis hemp plant. Hemp is the fiber produced from the stalk and the oil produced from the seed of the cannabis hemp plant. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]Second, how can a plant from which the word canvas is derived be a novelty product? According to archeological records, cannabis hemp was probably man’s first cultivated crop and remained the world’s largest agricultural crop through the 1800s, being spread all over the world for its many vast uses. The word canvas itself is a testament to early man’s survival, including shelter, clothing, sails, and a medium for recording his art and history. And the Biblical command to “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth” was achieved through the rigging and sails made from hemp on nearly all the world’s sea-going vessels. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial] Next our government claims that "all the hemp the U.S. currently imports could be grown on 2,000 acres." Of course, hemp is illegal and there is no U.S. hemp market. All the government’s comparisons of hemp’s cost versus profits are based on industrial and financial reports from before its illegalization in 1937. And why is the U.S., still to this day, importing this "novelty item"? [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial] And finally, the fact that "for every use of industrial hemp, there already exists an available product" is the one real reason why industrial hemp -- and not just marijuana -- has been illegal in our country since 1937. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]The hemp seed is one of the highest sources of protein and the number-one source of essential fatty acids. It is still a major food staple for many people in the eastern world. Hemp seed was the world's most used birdseed right up until its prohibition. Birds will pick the hemp seeds out of a pile of mixed seed and eat them first. Hemp seed oil was the main base for the planet’s paints and varnishes and was the world's most consumed lighting oil for thousands of years. It was also used as lubricating oil, even as recently as World War II on U.S. war ships. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]The fiber from the cannabis hemp plant is the strongest natural fiber in the world. From it man has produced everything from the finest linens to the strongest ropes, sails, and tents for thousands of years. Even the first American flags were made out of hemp. The fiber is also a chemical-free source of paper, and was used worldwide since 600 A.D., for everything from books to money and documents, including both drafts of the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin used hemp in America’s first paper mill. Hemp’s cellulose fibers were also used in the manufacture of dynamite and TNT.[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]The study of the hemp fiber by the U.S.'s largest powder company, Du Pont, led to the development of the first synthetic fiber, Rayon. Hemp’s cellulose observation was also the basis of our plastics, (Celluloid, Acetate, etc.) and the duplication of these fibers produced Nylon, the world’s strongest synthetic fiber. This company also produced the chemicals that make up synthetic varnishes and paints, and the chemicals used in the wood-paper process.[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]"The chemist has aided in conserving nature by developing synthetic products to supplement or wholly replace natural products," said Lammont Du Pont, company president. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]In 1937, the entire hemp industry was illegalized through the lie that marijuana was the most violent drug known to man. In this same year, Du Pont patented Nylon and the chemical process of making paper from wood. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]Hence, the reason that industrial hemp is illegal: a lie. And every year hundreds of thousands of Americans are arrested to cover up this lie. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]Hemp is no “new crop” with an unknown market in America. It has thousands of years of history as evidenced in the 1942 USDA film Hemp for Victory: "Long before these ancient Greek temples were new, hemp was already old in the service of man." [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]Similarly, the books of Psalms 104:14 reads, "He maketh the grass for the cattle, and herb for the service of man."' [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial]President George Washington said, "Make the most of the hemp seed. Sow it everywhere."
230 years later, president George W. Bush's DEA, under the direction of Karen Tandy, is trying to crush the hemp seed out of existence.
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Kama wrote: »

So, if there were robust medical evidence for the efficacy of cannabis, you'd be pro?

sure there is loads of evidence but do u think governments listen to evidence ,, i don't , they will do what ever they like and when they like ,, they don't give a crap about people ,, only lining there pockets

you will find a lot of people now are coming around to cannabis ,, due to having sons, grandsons , daughters . e.t.c smoking cannabis ,

and they seeing that its not actually doing to them , what the horror story's are saying ,,,


i do understand where you are comming from we up against a small minded people ..