Re: Weedy topic!
 

Most of the marijuana now smoked in the UK, 70% of it, is home grown skunk, which does have unpleasant side effects, and the notion of highly educated people smoking spliffs without causing themselves or others harm is a false one.

The trouble is, alcohol, cigarettes and dope are all stress relievers, and without relieving stress you are also causing yourself harm.

Perhaps a tad facetiously, what would you rather have - a shorter life full of rip-roaring fun, or a longer one filled with austere misery?

It appears you can't have both. I'm trying for a middle course, resting up my liver during the week, but frightening the life out of it at weekends.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

:goodpost:Where do you think the majority of these people are getting their supplies from? The majority are growing one or two plants (yes, skunk) at home, not out buying from dodgy youths on street corners. Apart from anything else they won't pay stupid prices for a couple of grams when good quality seeds are available to buy on the high street.

You could liken skunk to spirits - if someone decides to have a Scotch in place of a pint of beer, they don't drink a pint of the stuff. Really, you have a very blinkered and unrealistic view on this subject.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

If you read the post properly, I have said they cause themselves harm but, with the full knowledge of what they are doing. Much like yourself at the weekends :)

Re: Weedy topic!
 

My experiences in the field are limited indeed, but I do remember one meaningless one when visiting a couple of ladies in the bad part of town. We had to sit in the kitchen because the living room was full of Tenants Super they had just fetched over from Calais.

Anyway, we all had a couple of cans of Tenants Super and a couple of spliffs. Before I took my leave, I remember the two quite ordinary ladies suddenly looking like film stars, and the rather grubby kitchen suddenly looking like a gold-plated spaceship.

I don't know which mind altering substance was to blame for the sudden euphoria, it could have been either, or both. And as far as I know, the experience didn't do me any harm.

I'm sorry about my blinkered view on the subject.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

Wonderful post HBG ... I have a wide grin on my face :)

Re: Weedy topic!
 

You believe all of that published by the American government do you? They're not biased in any way really are they? Do you always believe everything governments tell you? Do you always believe everything the media tells you?

For as many reports that say cannabis is harmful, I can probably show you just as many that say it isn't. Who to believe?

Incidentally, swop out the words marijuana and cannabis for alcohol and that article will actually start to make some sense.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

Nice first post
How to make friends and influence people :rofl:

Re: Weedy topic!
 

Of course the trained researchers haven't a clue, I should really have known that.

Much better asking the users with first hand experience who ended up in the funny farm, that's if they can still manage to utter a few words that make any sense.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

I'm sorry if that came across as being a little abrasive, it's just the way I am. I tend to say things as I see them!

Re: Weedy topic!
 

What trained researchers might those be? The ones working for and being paid by the American government, who just happens to be fighting a war on drugs? What methodology are they using? What's the sample size? How are they reaching those conclusions and what are the basing them on?

Without any of that information it's just more government propaganda to justify their war on drugs.

What users might those be and do you have any examples you'd like to cite? Or are you going to simply point your finger back to the same government and media propaganda sources that tell everyone Cannabis use is bad because it's politically expedient for them to want to do so?

You appear to have a very anti-Cannabis stance yet can't back any of your claims up with a single shred of evidence beyond posting a link to an American government drugs site that says Cannabis is bad!

Fortunately there has been some really intelligent posts on this subject in this thread by people who really understand the issues. But sad that the same government and media fueled hysteria about how bad it is still seems to pervade some minds that can't think for themselves and don't appear to have the slightest clue with regards to the issues that surround the subject matter.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

I wasn't aware the Americans were the only place on the planet that's outlawed the stuff. Better not tell that to California, they could get a ticket for that!

Anyway, welcome to the zoo. You and Cman will get along just fine. In fact, you both write so similarly, it's as if you're the same person!

Truly a match made in heaven! When does the next show begin? I can't wait :D

Re: Weedy topic!
 

Try this one then from the UK Royal College or do they not have a clue either ?

http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/expertadvic.../cannabis.aspx

Maybe you'll publish your own research papers one day and kindly enlighten us all. :cool:

Re: Weedy topic!
 

The key here is to actually read the articles you're linking to, to prove your point. The key paragraph here is -
Strongly suggested. That means that can't or don't have sufficient evidence to prove conclusively there is a causal link. They just think it.

Genetic vulnerability. That means those people already pre-disposed to developing those type mental disorders can increase the risk of producing them by Cannabis use.

No-one said Cannabis was suitable for everyone, in precisely the same way that alcohol isn't suited to everyone either.

I'm still waiting for you to produce some hard concrete evidence to backup and support your views that Cannabis is harmful because so far you've been unable to do so. Any deaths been caused by it? Any real health problems? Any harm to society of an adult making a free-will choice of consuming Cannabis?

You can't do it, yet you still continue to peddle the view that it's harmful to society. You simply paraphrase and repeat what the government and media tell you to believe.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

I'm not quite sure what point you're making here. The link posted was to a US Government site claiming Cannabis was harmful. I didn't make any comment on legality or otherwise of Cannabis in the USA.

I have no idea who you are referring to here I'm afraid.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

I would be very interested to see those reports that say that cannabis isn't harmful.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

I'd be interested to see how many people on this forum have actually partaken of the "evil weed" :D

Re: Weedy topic!
 

:tape:

Re: Weedy topic!
 

Not me, as I don't smoke, I would not mind someone cooking me some cakes though :fingerscrossed:

Probably tried a lot of other things that I should not have, There is a few things I have avoided and I think now I am approaching a older age I doubt I will try them.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

I like them, they seem like my type of people...

Re: Weedy topic!
 

ahhh go on! You know you want to :blink:

Re: Weedy topic!
 

Hell yeah... Why not? People drink, why shouldn't I partake?



(You're just trying to work out which one of us is closest to you aren't you?)

Re: Weedy topic!
 

I tried it many years ago ... had to be done.
I was a Customs Officer at the time, but what the hell .... we wuz young :rofl:

Re: Weedy topic!
 

and someone had the cheek to say I was a stereotypical Essex Fag smuggler moving to Spain !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Weedy topic!
 

Aparently the only sort you can buy now is skunk... that's one of the things I learned on BE... that skunk is the main type of blow you can buy now in the UK... It's pretty much all there is to buy....


I used to go to a nightclub many years ago in Bognor, the doormen, man mountains they were... used to ask us... "Come on then son, you got any drugs on ya?"... we used to look at them with innocent eyes and say... "No sir, none at all" To which they would reply, "Want some?"


Anyway... Just say no Mitz... drugs are bad for you, they will make you grow a ponytail and take up driving girly sportscars....

Re: Weedy topic!
 

Heh heh ... yes, but sorry to disappoint you .... I'm driving a Jaguar now :lol:

Re: Weedy topic!
 

And what makes you think I was talking about you? Hmm? I mean we all know you have far too much taste to drive an FTO or... oh I don't know, a Suzuki....

Re: Weedy topic!
 

I don't know if anyone has already mentioned it, but marijuana use is legal in Spain. And they don't have to grow that nasty skunk, the mellow Moroccan Gold is plentiful and cheap as chips. You don't even have to buy it, tons of it is washed up on the shores.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

No it isn't.

Consumption in a public place and possession of small quantities for personal use only is decriminalised. Decriminalisation and legality are two entirely different things.

Spains laws also protects an individuals right to personal freedom in the privacy of their own home and tolerates the cultivation and consumption of small quantities for personal consumption.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

If I replied by saying 'Oh, yes it is', the discussion would turn farcical, so I won't. Prostitution is also legal in Spain and the age of consent is 13, although they're going to raise it to 16 in the near future.

Back on topic, Spanish youth, like youth everywhere is impatient, they don't want to walk the stairway to heaven and have to smoke two spliffs to appreciate the music, they go to the toilet and snort a line, and when they walk back into the disco, they're in instant heaven.

Marijuana is for the old hippies, they buy a litre of cheap vodka for a fiver, another fiver gets them the smokes, and then a gaggle of them sit around talking gibberish for the rest of the night.

What they should make illegal is talking gibberish.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

On the internet one can find an article to prove any point if you look hard enough.

However as the OP on this thread, I really even hesitated to open it as it would mean revealing publicly that I had taken it. But I had just seen the CNN report mentioned there and felt that the discussion would be interesting.

Then the discussion progressed and we saw real life examples of e.g approved use in Israel, and parts of USA, the results of the real life tests done in Portugal, Uruguay's project, the widespread de-criminalisation (where police forces are effectively saying they have better things to do with taxpayers money/resources) etc etc etc.

Of course I came in pretty positive about medical use.

Like any decision there are positives and negatives... And 3 wrongs don't make a right. Meaning just because alcohol is acceptable and a more addictive and damaging drug than cannabis, doesnt mean we should open the door for any other less problematic drug, for THAT reason only ....

Also do I want to see groups of youths in public places high on weed? NO. Then again I think they are less threatening than the same tanked up on cheap supermarket cider. But legalising it would possibly mean we have both, or a mix. A negative.

However my views are YES for medical use. If I ever get that kind of pain, again, will take it legal or not, criminalised or not.

I now am very positive about the positives outweighing the negatives of legalisation of cannabis. So would welcome PROPER PUBLIC DEBATE with me starting with a yes opinion.

What I didn't expect to happen was that I became positive about having a proper public discussion about legalisation / de-criminalisation of harder drugs... Re Portugal's example.

The drug cartels are a huge power of evil in this world, HUGE and if we had a Portugal style plan..... Or a controlled government policy offering safely produced drugs using the profits to have health programmes (e.g clean needles, counselling, withdrawal programmes etc etc)... Then I suspect that there would a bunch of positives to consider.

Negatives too.... But rather than STIFLING the debate, I would like to see a PROPER public debate on that, with me coming in with an open, slightly positive mind.

Thanks for all the info, positive and negative.

Jon

Re: Weedy topic!
 

Blimey, how can you write so much sense, so early in the morning? Have you looked outside? It's pissing down, mother earth is smiling again.

The use of substances to make our world a happier place has gone on for centuries. A trillion books have been written on the subject and I don't believe for one minute that Bill Clinton didn't inhale.

My feel-good drug for this morning is going to be a walk in the rain. I'm debating whether to take the dogs, I've got an umbrella but they haven't.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

Perhaps it´s what he put on his cornflakes :blink:

Re: Weedy topic!
 

What I DO fail to understand (and I'm sure I will be shot down in flames here) is why there's such a big fuss about Cannabis being legal or not when a drug which seemingly causes so much more death, destruction and mayhem throughout the world is available to absolutely anyone who wants to go and buy it .... damn it, we're even encouraged to buy it, and many brag about using it on a really regular basis. We use it to relax, we use it to celebrate.

You all know what it is ..... so why dont we just ban that to bring things into line :lol:

Re: Weedy topic!
 

Good one made me laugh out loud! :thumbsup:

I'm in the continent, so we are an hour ahead.... so its not so early for me... but thanks HBG.

Thanks

Jon

Re: Weedy topic!
 

Though I wouldn´t like the outcome as I do enjoy a glass, I think you have a very solid point!
I know "smokers" who barely drink a drop. Likewise drinkers who don´t smoke.
It´s like the pot and the kettle. All those drinkers saying dope should be illegal!
I know which crew I prefer to spend time with.
Here´s a clue, the ones that know how loud they´re talking. The ones that can walk a straight line. The same ones that don´t want to start a fight over a bag of chips before vomitting over their own shoes. The ones who don´t mind if they noticed you catch the sight of their partner in your line of sight. The ones that understand football is just a game and no reason to cause gbh ... I could go on :o

Re: Weedy topic!
 

Since I've had a laugh this morning, and just to lighten things for a second (on this serious subject) ... before re-entering the fray, let me 'go on' for you... for those that missed this on the other thread....

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...postcount=1892

Re: Weedy topic!
 

What makes me wonder, and sometimes shudder are those 'born again' people. I see a lot of former smokers around and they're all on those ridiculous e-cigarettes, great big things that look really silly. And they look really miserable while puffing away defiantly.

And then the former drinkers. They've spent a lifetime ruining their livers and terrifying those around them, and suddenly they're clogging up the Churches to beg for forgiveness.

I live on the outskirts of a Spanish city of some 150,000 inhabitants. There are no less than six AA meetings around, just in English, two in German and two for the Scandinavians, but only one for the Spanish.

I'm actually in favour of all those addicts trying to help themselves, I haven't led an exactly 'clean' life myself. I blame the makers of Woodbine who caused my first addiction as a young boy, followed by all those distilleries up north.

And I've got a single malt in the cupboard, along with some other frightening stuff.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

:goodpost:
You couldn't be more right. Everyone who likes a drink should stay sober one evening when out with friends - it's amazing how visible the behavioural changes are when people have been drinking, even if they don't get to the vomiting or fighting stage. I would far rather be in the company of people who've had a smoke (I don't) than those who've been drinking when I haven't.

Another odd thing I've always noticed is that smokers are far more tolerant of people who don't share their habit, I've been offered a spliff hundreds of times and just said no thanks, I don't smoke. The only comment I ever get is "but you don't mind if we do?", out of politeness. If I join a group of people who are drinking, though, and I say I'll just have a soft drink, I always have to spend several minutes listening to "Oh go on, have a proper drink", "just one won't hurt you", "are you sure", "have a drink, don't be miserable" and so on.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

[QUOTE=Mitzyboy;10890007

You all know what it is ..... so why dont we just ban that to bring things into line :lol:[/QUOTE]

Because it's already been tried and failed miserably.
Prohibition in the US, which lead to gangsters fighting out turf wars, exactly as seen regarding the hard drugs scene today.

Marijauna is slightly different to alcohol and baccy in that as far as the Western world is concerned it's only come on the scene comparatively recently and so the powers that be were obviously hoping to stop it becoming the norm and just as readily available as the others.

Re: Weedy topic!
 

It would indeed. But only because you'd be repeating the same thing said previously which would still be incorrect. You may consider I'm being pedantic but I'd rather give later readers of this thread the correct information than allow incorrect information to be accepted as being true.

It might be a subtle difference but as previously stated decriminalisation and legality are two quite different things.

Is that not a little too over-generalised?