Why Is Marijuana Illegal?

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

I never stated that I had all the answers but it seems to me, that once a particular argument arises, a quick glace using Google can debunk some of the myths to which I am more than happy to post and move the debate along. I don't have a medical degree but I also have no knowledge of any official scientific studies indicating the harmfulness of marijuana consumption.

If you can find one yourself, this thread will be a better one for it.

Moreover, the same old arguments linking marijuana with physical and mental performance can be said, to a greater extent about several drugs already on the market at this time. So why is it illegal? No reason. Large businesses with huge political influence in the past decided it was a danger to their products and companies as it can be used for several things and not only a drug of sorts.

Why are we so quick to believe what television tells us and ridicule others for not conforming to the laws the powers that be have controlled us with since the beginning of time? Are people not capable of making an educated and, having dived into some intelligent research and analysis, come to their own, individual conclusion instead of wasting time listening to those with specific agenda's?

I don't personally agree with the legal side of drug use in Ireland, I believe I would see less chaos if possession of most drugs was legal. However, what myths are you speaking of? Neither of the two issues I mention are myths; I see them often enough. Just google mental health or addiction and cannabis.

I not being funny, but people need to do their own research, none of which is perfect. A start for Ireland minght be http://www.hrb.ie/publications/

mikom wrote: »

From that piece....

Handy to drop in the ould schizophrenia when a court case for robbery, GBH is approaching perhaps.

Bollox

I must have type up a few thousand court reports over the years, very few single figures in fact would have been for any theft, act of violence and a drug induced psychotic disorder. Don't think that one would be as common as you think.

Edit:

Just to clarify that, the above relates to cannabis use and an induced disorder with an act of violence as you suggest. Also do people think we just give out positive court reports to anyone. If you want a positive report you engage in treatment, if you don't the report states that.

Doesn't make a difference to me legal or not I'm still gonna smoke it, dam wish I had some now all this talk of it has put me in the mood to roll one of those bad boys up

humanji wrote: »

You can't legalise it in Ireland because there are too many stupid people in this country. The Irish do everthing to excess. Take a look at inner city areas at 2am on a Saturday night. People know what alcohol does to them and they abuse it anyway. Adding another drug they can abuse will just cause more problems. And having mass unemployment and a drug that makes you want to do f*ck all isn't a good combination. Fix the issues we have now and work from there. Once people learn to stop abusing alchohol, micotine, caffeine etc, then consider bringing other substances in.

Oh, and the whole "it'll reduce crime" argument is utter bull****. Criminals aren't going to decide to go straight because they can't sell one little drug.

There aren't too many people in this country, we have a small overall population and an urban sprawl because people refuse to build up, and yes we have an unhealthy drinking culture that needs to be made right but that doesn't mean that people should be prosecuted for something they're already going to be doing.
Life will go on like it's always gone on if cannabis is legalized, there won't be an increase in laziness- the people who are lazy fúckers will continue being lazy and the winners will keep on winning. As you said- if people where educated there wouldn't as big a problem with any presently legal drugs and that goes for marijuana too.

Just like any industry if you take away profits from, they have less money to work with and less people to sell to- simple.

JazzPotato wrote: »

I've been browsing these forums for a couple years and never had the need to sign up. But after seeing this thread I had to say something.



After reading the ENTIRE thread, this is the ONLY comment that makes 100% sense.

Yes, there are great benefits from legalising "weed". People will love it as well I'm sure. There are also many cons to legalising "weed".
Irish people do have the tend to go in excess, same in England as well. From living in both countries and having parents with different stories from both countries over the past 40 years, I know what they saw (Might not be all 100% correct but its a damn sight better view on the past then most people in here would have).
Alcohol is a wonderful thing, in moderation. I'm not saying I have never gotten drunk off my head, but I can see how doing it every weekend (or every so often) is a bad habit. A terrible habit in fact. What is to say that this won't happen with "weed" also?

I'm going to get shot down by many, but "weed" does affect with the brain. Ask any nurse who works in a mental ward why most of the young male patients are in there. Also as far as dependency is concerned, that is down to a person not just a drug. I dislike using personal examples, but alas...I can go out and have a pint and be happy. I do have several friends who can only drink if they're going to go out on the lash and drink until they vomit.

And the only condemning thing to people I will say, in concurrence with the quoted post, that "weed" isn't the only drug that dealers are dealing. It will not kill off much drug dealers we have going, just the small ones who make a couple hundred a week off the smoke.

I think this is a great link for just straight up facts about it, not propaganda as a lot of "weed" lovers like to coin here...http://www.talktofrank.com/drugs.aspx?id=172

With all that, I'd love for weed to be easier to get. My "friend" does enjoy it a good bit. By my "friend" can also see why it shouldn't be made legal

If people smoked weed every week they'd probably experience something on par with someone smoking 5 times as much, e.g.. if they have five joints on saturday it'd be the same as a a pack and a change in smokes a week, aswell as weight gain and a worsened short term memory span.

The link between cannabis and schizophrenia is tenuous and sensationally reported quite alot, The UKs Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs are quoted in dissent to the drug policy in the UK, saying "The evidence suggests, at worst, that using cannabis increases the lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia by less than 1 per cent."*

And as for addiction, again education is the key- anyone with an addictive personality shouldn't reasonably do any drugs and anyone who is ignorant enough to abuse a drug enough to become mentally or physically dependent is a gobshín.

Again, legalisation would take cannabis out of the hands of drugs dealers- leaving them with less money and a smaller userbase, leading to less crime.

Talk to Frank is an english government funded propaganda site made to assist in prohibition- http://www.erowid.org/ is much more impartial and truthful in its delivery.

*http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/comment-exaggerated-claims-are-no-basis-for-policy-804525.html

Researchers at Cardiff University (Stanley Zammit and colleagues) found a connection between frequent pot smoking and psychosis, schizophrenia, hearing voices and hallucinations. People who haven't smoked pot are less likely to display the same psychotic illnesses.

The researchers were clear that it's not that marijuana causes psychosis. Rather, marijuana triggers mental illness if the individual already has a predisposition to that illness. So if your family has a history of schizophrenia or other psychotic illnesses, smoking pot now could predispose you to struggle with mental illness later in life.

The British researchers concluded that "there is now sufficient evidence to warn young people that cannabis use will increase their risk of psychosis."

The effect of marijuana on psychotic illnesses may vary from individual to individual. Hallucinations, hearing voices, psychotic delusions and schizophrenia could be triggered by many things – and pot smoking may be one of them. It also depends on how much pot you smoke. The British study found that frequent pot smokers (daily or weekly marijuana users) were 50 to 200% more likely to experience psychosis. Your age and genetics also affects whether marijuana will trigger a psychotic illness.

This is somthing for personal reasons I have done quite a bit of research on I have read a lot on the subject and I do believe it is trigger for mental illness.