Marijuana

[CoxRox]

I've had the house to myself the last hour, so instead of getting down to some serious Christmas telly viewing I've been looking up alcohol and it's bad effects on our health if taken in moderation, (as I crack open a can of Murphy's) or indeed if taken at all. I'm really struggling to find anything. I'll continue after Christmas, but I did find this page, which if half true, you'd be a fool not to drink a little (I'm jesting):

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/alcoholandhealth.html

[Dotard]

I should drink more.

Good Christmas to you too CR.

We should just agree both substances are definately not good for you and should not be consumed by minors or health conscience people.

It is my contention that they both should be treated the same. Marijuana should not be illegal anymore than alcohol should be illegal. Or alcohol should be illegal just as marijuana is illegal.

[CoxRox]

I see where you are coming from.....

[Meatball]

BUMP

The Obama administration in the US has finally made it an official policy (in writing!) that federal agents will not be trumping state laws regarding medicinal marijuana. In other words, if a person is a designated caregiver and is growing marijuana within state guidelines, the DEA cannot disrupt their operation. The DEA can no longer raid marijuana dispenseries in California provided they are following state law.

This has sorta been the standard practice since February, but now it's official policy.

It's not law, but it's a big step. I wonder if this kind of thinking would extend to all state marijuana laws. For example, if one of the CA ballot initiatives in 2010 calling for full marijuana legalization were to pass, would we see similar policy from the feds?

Source: AP

[Rhizomorph13]

Thanks for the info Meatball!

Very good! I would think that a and theists alike could agree that pot smokery should be legalized! Ok, yeah, I know, there is never anything that even all a's or theists agree on within their own group let alone between each other.

Duck season!

Rhizo

[fr0d0]

I agree with you Rhiz. Just imagine pubs full of pot smokers - how much would that save in police time!

[theVOID]

I agree with you Rhiz. Just imagine pubs full of pot smokers - how much would that save in police time!

Legalizing it period would save police time; they're wasting money and resources prosecuting a victimless crime. Victimless crime is a complete violation of personal freedoms and should never be prosecuted.

[fr0d0]

You mean as in people being nicked for smoking/ possessing pot? ...yes, quite agree.

[AngelaRachnid]

Interesting thread,

Having smoked for years you can tell straight away the ones that haven't smoked but claim they have to try to fit in

Anyway: here in the UK about 20 odd years back the found a few doctors selling heroin prescriptions (it used to be available on the NHS). So the Government I think the Fascist Thatcher one stopped doctors prescribing herion (with the exception of two). and guess what drug related crime went through the roof, people dieing from dirty needles, aids etc escalated, drug related hospital admissions went warp speed. I saw a documentary on the two doctors who were still allowed to prescribe heroin, interviews with the heads of police said that drug crime was well below the national average, interviews with hospital admin said the drug related admissions (collapsed veins etc) were almost non existent, and the two doctors were running a very successful rehab clinic where they gradually took the addicts of. Because the long time addicts had access to free heroin the local drug dealers didn't bother selling much (some did) as there was no market, and if they did turn someone on then that person soon found out about the free stuff.

I cannot understand why the don't put heroin back on prescription.

How do people come into contact with heroin? they go to their local dealer for the bit of grass or hash, but the dealer has sold out but happens to have speed, acid, coke, opium, heroin, the the person wanting a high will try one of the others.

So how do you stop people coming into contact with the harder dangerous drugs?

Make the harder (addictive) drugs available through doctors, and the more "recreational drugs" available from licensed tobacconists or "coffee shops", not bars/pubs as "smoking dope and drinking beer is like pissing in the wind" it all comes back on you. Thus breaking the cycle of grass smokers having to go to the people that sell killer drugs.

The government can undercut the dealers prices on hash and grass ( cause they can buy in larger quantities, we also would then get a far better standard of hash = not smelling of diesel) and making enough to fund the harder drugs given by the doctors. They could also tax the grass/hash to reap back what they would loose in alcohol sales. (you get stoned and before you know it you cannot be arsed to go out to the pub).

Why dont the government do this? because they are probably getting a cut from the illegal drugs trade.

I have also been to re hab for "alcohol abuse" I was drinking at dependency level though not dependent if you know what i mean. during the course we learned that a pint of petrol will have the same affect as a pint of beer, and that it is easier to get of of heroin than alcohol.

Alcohol IS A DRUG a very dangerous one don't let anyone tell you otherwise

A

[fr0d0]

Alcohol is A list and legal for precisely the reasons you state A