Is this wise ?

I think legalised pot smoking on a small scale would be an interesting experiment.

I don't approve of drug taking, but then I don't approve of smoking or excessive drinking - both of which are legal. I am fully aware of the failure of prohibition in America, which is why I am to a certain extent open minded.

The problem comes if it is a success. Do you then legalise cocaine and all the rest. And we could really empty the prisons if we legalised rape and murder.

The fact is that "crimes" run on a sliding scale from very slightly grey to very black. An arbitrary line has to be drawn somewhere, and human nature makes people go right up to that line and and then a bit over. I don't think we will ever solve the problem of people going over the line. But I am willing to bow to others as to exactly where that line should be drawn - as long as I can continue to grow Brugmansia and my other hallucinogenic plants.

 

My feelings for allowing cannabis a free rein is that it helps certain people in an anxious or stressful state. I firmly believe that MS sufferers benefit enormously from this medication. Surely that cannot be a bad thing? Many of us have a (groan) "repeat prescription " for certain medication which, if taken in excess or abused, would be a lot more harmful than cannabis surely? Whereas I wouldn't condone the legalisation of ALL harmful substances per se, I think the use of pure Cannabis should be reviewed.
I would like to hear other members' views on this subject.
Jenny namaste

 

Ziggy, I made a point of going down to the lower Hospice garden where the long Greenhouses are this morning. Found the lovely gardener guy potting up Fuchsia cuttings, in the warm but the GH vents were open and the radio was softly on.... and I just wanted to stay and get my fingers mucky... but I am a Volunteer in the main building.
However, I asked him "is the plant growing material actually composted marijuana?".
"Oh no", he said, "it's this stuff here. It's the last bag unfortunately".
It was called All mix Biobizz and there is a website and it is sold in the UK by www.hydroponics.co uk. It really does look the business and I would love to get hold of some. Has anyone else tried it here on GC?
Jenny namaste

 

"Dim" used to rave about it; relatively expensive perhaps? Maybe I should make an effort and fork out and try some

"relatively expensive" is irrelevant when growing a high value cash crop of course as, relatively, it becomes insignificant.

 

Maybe designated cafe's like they have in parts of Holland. It seems to me that that way, you can observe the users of it easily, and see what happens. If they step outside the designated area with a joint in their hand, then just like in Holland, they are fair game to be nicked.

Whether something should be a crime or not should depend on if it is most likely to harm anyone.

Personally I believe that cannabis does cause harm, but no more than baccy or drink or any number of other legal things. Certain other drugs are much more likely to cause harm, and so should remain illegal. Anything where the individual knowingly causes harm (rape and murder in the example you gave) would be illegal because there can be no doubt that such things are fundamentally malicious and harmful to others.

The trouble is, cannabis is harmful when used in excess. I saw two mates become so lazy that they just did nothing with their lives for the first few years after leaving school. One of them became so mentally unstable and paranoid that we fell out for a long time because I had to pull him off our mutual friend, as he was trying to slit his throat with a butterfly knife none of us even knew he was carrying. That was more than 10 years ago, and although we tentatively made friends, really that friendship ended at the exact moment I saw him holding a knife to my mate. The other lad, the one who was about to be slashed before I intervened, is a lot more sound. He's not smoked it for years and years, but he is still prone to bouts of very deep depression and by his own admission his lungs are not what they ought to be.

That's not to say that cannabis is always a bad thing. I think its about common sense and moderation. Maybe getting mildly relaxed and giggly from time to time is fine, but maybe smoking a whole chunk of resin every night through a purpose built pipe designed to give the maximum possible hit, every night, maybe is too much. Just exactly the same as a glass of brandy every now and then, or a few tinnies at the weekend is fine, but a full bottle of whisky per night will soon wipe you out.

 

On the documentary that I viewed here on GC, the lass being interviewd (who had MS)was not smoking it. She was inhaling the gas given off when it was heated in a special chamber. This was contained in a clear perspex bag that a mouthpiece was attached to. It enabled her to move her joints and hands smoothly and steadily - without pain. She was able to go outside and enjoy her garden, like the rest of us,
Jenny

 

Sounds like a high-tec bong.

 

Dave's hit the nail on the head, too much is bad. I stopped smoking when all I saw was mates sitting around & doing nothing. I like to get on & do things, like building a house or conserving a Roman City.

 

Too much of most things are bad Ziggy. We all know that. That shouldn't stop something being available.
Jenny

 

I'm agreeing with you Jenny.

I'm not thinking so much of the legalisation of the drug, more the freedom to choose what you want to grow for your own use, be it oil, protein, fibre or compost.

 

You need to read Jennys post again
It was the 90 bags of compost that was donated, not the entire results of the raid

Jack McH

 

Jack, I had visions of the "weeds" growing in between the wallflowers and the black side of my humour came to the fore I must confess. I said to the gardener"Maybe we should harvest the stuff and give it to our patients. Would save the Hospice a fortune on palliative care".
He thought it was a brilliant idea so I asked him to consider putting it up as a staff suggestion,
Jenny

 

Kristen
maybe a bag or two for your really "precious " things.......? You can do a field study for us all .
Jenny

 

I can absolutely endorse what clueless is saying as it almost exactly mirrors things I have seen in my own social circle. A bit of youthful dabbling is one thing but for susceptible individuals then long term cannabis use can be very damaging.

As was pointed out, heavy cannabis smoking presents exactly the same sort of health damage as tobacco smoking but with the added risk of mental problems.

I do wonder if some sort of predisposition is needed, though. As with drink and other drug abuse, it's the people who are inherently struggling eg due to a disadvantaged family background or emotional disturbance who are more likely to have problems with addiction. Other people shrug it all off as they mature.

Even so, I don't see that the solution is to have illegal drugs - this just criminalises ordinary users and creates a rich mine for them to be exploited by real criminals.

 

OK Boss

I'm anti legalisation of Cannabis; the effects of long term use leading to paranoia are compelling to me. I expect I would against legalisation of Alcohol and Tobacco too, if they were "new" today. It would not surprise me if Tobacco is legally banned during our children's lifetimes

I have no doubt of the benefit [of cannabis] for MS suffers, but my view is that pharmaceutical companies should refine the raw material and create "medication" by extracting the useful ingredients rather than permitting "personal use". Rather like Morphine instead of Heroin.

For example, GW Pharmaceuticals has a drug for MS suffers called Sativex which is (I believe) refined from Cannabis (there are several citations on the page linked to which discuss that Cannabis Extracts, for medicinal use, are greater than the sum of their parts)