Wazz & the Potheads, you may now rejoice...

[Sar]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_2118000/2118953.stm

 

[*Kornholio*]

yay !!

 

[kanonfodda]

Prepare to be taxed on it

 

[Embattle]

Instead of getting 5 years for possion you now get a reduced 2 years

 

[Penry]

Boo – Hiss – Blunkett’s got his head up his arse on this one ! The only good thing that’s going to come out of this ‘downgrading’ is Keith Halliwell resigning (Horray its already happened )

This irresponsible act is going to do more harm than good. Sure, end users wont be fined or imprisoned, but it’ll still be confiscated. Anyone caught dealing will face double sentences, not to mention be easier to find as the happy go lucky pot smokers walking down the high street with a J in their hand lead the police straight to the dealers. Demand will grow, more suppliers imprisoned, depleted supply, and still an offence to homegrow ! Bah …. Not to mention kiddies heading off to dealers saying ‘can I have some cannabis please’, reply ‘sorry kid I’m all out, there’s such a demand at the moment, but I do have some crack if you want…’ Humf ….

I demand legalisation, I demand proper research (application as test subject submitted), I demand Quality Control, Let them tax it to 500 % (it’ll still be cheaper), put on age restrictions if they will, even restrict where it can be smoked like tobacco/alcohol. But Legalise it … please … otherwise the message this gives is all screwed up.

 

[Embattle]

If they ever legalise it I would still want it illegal to smoke in public.

 

[Embattle]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_2118000/2118953.stm

 

[xane]

Originally posted by Embattle
If they ever legalise it I would still want it illegal to smoke in public.

Yeah, like the current non-smoking enforcement really works at the moment

 

[Penry]

Originally posted by Embattle
If they ever legalise it I would still want it illegal to smoke in public.

Unless its ‘Legal’ to smoke it, rather than just an un-arrestable offence which holds no penalty (which is what they are suggesting today) there’s no way they could pass legislation restricting where it could be used!

 

[stu]

Originally posted by Penry


Unless its ‘Legal’ to smoke it, rather than just an un-arrestable offence which holds no penalty (which is what they are suggesting today) there’s no way they could pass legislation restricting where it could be used!

I think that's exactly what he was suggesting

 

[Embattle]

There is no such thing as no way but following the dutch system is easier although no matter where your smoke it or what laws get passed the people who smoke it stink

 

[Cod]

Originally posted by Embattle
Instead of getting 5 years for possion you now get a reduced 2 years

Even now do the police do anything? All the police round here do is either take it off you or just tell you to move on, can't see what this is going to acomplish

 

[Embattle]

Not really although those were the max sentences possible.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

(Note to self: must go and smoke in Embattle's road more often)

 

[Penry]

Originally posted by Embattle
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_2118000/2118953.stm

They've just updated that article on Hellawel's resignation:

points to note

"I have resigned over this issue (cannabis) and over the issue of spin,"

Mr Hellawell had resigned last month but at his request the news was not made public.

If thats not spin - what is !!!

 

[Will]

Originally posted by Penry
...
This irresponsible act is going to do more harm than good. Sure, end users wont be fined or imprisoned, but it’ll still be confiscated. Anyone caught dealing will face double sentences, not to mention be easier to find as the happy go lucky pot smokers walking down the high street with a J in their hand lead the police straight to the dealers. Demand will grow, more suppliers imprisoned, depleted supply, and still an offence to homegrow ! Bah …. Not to mention kiddies heading off to dealers saying ‘can I have some cannabis please’, reply ‘sorry kid I’m all out, there’s such a demand at the moment, but I do have some crack if you want…’ Humf ….

...

From another BBC News Article
Figures from Scotland Yard last month showed street crime in Lambeth had fallen dramatically.

Scotland Yard's Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair, last week said the pilot scheme was "undoubtedly" beneficial to the police.

Sounds like the police approve too, so I really doubt a lot of what you have forseen Penry will happened.

This idea, while stopping short of full legalisation (which is probably not going to happen without harming our special relationship with America), is a very positive step in sensible drugs policy, an end to the outdated idea that you can lock up every drug user, even when it makes up such a large percentage of the population.

One day a UK government will get over trying to appease the "hang 'em all" set of voters, and we will have a realistic drugs policy. After all, enforcement-based policies have been shown to fail, time and time again, and lack of education, due to the very illegality of drugs, causes a large number of deaths, including Leah Betts from what I remember.

It was either her, or another Ecstatsy death at the time, where they decided they didn't like this drug, and drinking 7 litres of water would make the effect go away, rather than causing the brain-stem to swell and crush itself. Something I wouldn't wish on anyone, but until drugs are handled a bit more maturely by the government, inevitable.

 

[Embattle]

Originally posted by ItchyTrigaFinga


It was either her, or another Ecstatsy death at the time, where they decided they didn't like this drug, and drinking 7 litres of water would make the effect go away, rather than causing the brain-stem to swell and crush itself. Something I wouldn't wish on anyone, but until drugs are handled a bit more maturely by the government, inevitable.

IIRC a number of these deaths occured after the educating of people.

 

[Will]

I hardly think thats educating when they go ahead and kill themselves by drinking too much water.

 

[throdgrain]

In my herby heyday I was convicted twice for possession and once for possession with intent to supply. Unphased i continue to be a "criminal" and continue to smoke for some 19 years.
Eventually about 6 months ago I give up.
So they begin to decriminalise it. My life ...

 

[Embattle]

Originally posted by ItchyTrigaFinga
I hardly think thats educating when they go ahead and kill themselves by drinking too much water.

They didn't tell them to drink a specific amount IIRC, they just said drink water so you don't dehydrate. Although it wouldn't stop it they said it would reduce the chances, the only way to stop it is not to do it.

Education can only go so far, its then up to the person to make a responsible decision. A slight off track example is AIDS, look at Africa where its running rampant and they say education is the key but in the UK the number of people with AIDS still increases and yet everyone knows how you can get it....education only gets you so far.

 

[lecter]

1. Legalise Cannabis and Ecstasy
2. Manufactered (under government licence) by a professional organisation like British and American Tobacco (cannabis) ICI/SmithKline Beecham (ecstasy)
3. Taxed Reasonably eg 1 pill = 5quid 1/8th weed = 15quid
4. Should be made available only in special government sanctioned outlets like offlicences or "systembolaget" in sweden. Clubs should be allowed to sell pills provided they have a trained medic on site.

This would basically put most dealers out of 'business', since their high profit, high volume items are taken away from them.

 

[MYstIC G]

I'd go with that lect, but I'd be more sly. I'd force anyone who's doing it to have private medical insurance (same for Drink/Ciggies) so if they do go over the edge, at least those people who are hard line on drugs, can't say anything about it affecting the NHS (cos that'll be the first thing people bitch about if this did happen)

Oh and I think you should have to use your passport to get the stuff, cos quite frankly there should be no possible excuse for selling this stuff to kids.

 

[xane]

Firstly let me say I have no problems with people taking any sort of drug, it doesn't really concern me what people do in their private lives. For the record I have dabbled in various substances, including excessive amounts, in the past, but I have been largely alcohol, tobacco and drug free for the last 15 or so years, the only possible addictive substances I could suffer from are Vitamin C and Neurofen

However, the overriding concern I have is the "inconsideration" problem.

What it amounts to is similar with what has happened to tobacco smoking. It is beyond doubt that tobacco not only damages health, but also effects people around you if you choose to smoke in public places, either as a nuisance or as a health hazard. The attitude has become such that _all_ smokers are victimised to try and contain the habits of what is in fact a very small proportion of inconsiderate people who smoke.

I recall arguing with a 13 y.o. schoolgirl who was literally smoking in my face on a bus, the reality was I could do nothing about it apart from move seats, the driver was hardly going to anything and the £1000 fine wasn't going to be a deterrant. People who wish to be inconsiderate can do so with no fear of reprisal.

The problem gets worse when you put drugs into the equation, whilst I might actually enjoy getting a free second-hand high off a nearby dope smoker, I doubt my 5 y.o. son will benefit. This has in fact become a problem for me and my family at bus stops and on buses where inconsiderate smokers of all substances seem intent on making my life miserable and damaging my son's health.

Alcohol is less of a problem, no-one is likely to get intoxicated or suffer health problems from booze fumes, the only incovienience is watching embarrassing drunken antics and the risk they may vomit in your face (been there), in fact I believe it is illegal to drink alcohol in public, but this is rarely enforced.

Both alcohol and tobacco are legal, but they are restricted for use in public places and illegal to sell to minors, yet all too often the frequency of seeing them being taken on the street and in the hands of young kids is rising.

I'd be better disposed towards dope if there were effective means to curb the inconsiderate and illegal use of the drugs we have at the moment, but as far as I can see introducing another variant into this mix is not going to improve things.

 

[Embattle]

Originally posted by camazotz
Alcohol is less of a problem, no-one is likely to get intoxicated or suffer health problems from booze fumes, the only incovienience is watching embarrassing drunken antics and the risk they may vomit in your face (been there), in fact I believe it is illegal to drink alcohol in public, but this is rarely enforced.

Not directly although drink driving, fighting, etc do affect other people.

I also think people need to think about their workplaces, I don't see any of them being receptive to legalising any more drugs.

 

[kanonfodda]

Originally posted by Embattle

I also think people need to think about their workplaces, I don't see any of them being receptive to legalising any more drugs.

Most companies can sack you on the spot for being drunk at work, so probably the same will aplly to being stoned at work.

similar wording to the drink driving laws:

"Driving whilst under the influence"

as opposed to

"driving whith an elevated Blood Alcohol Level"

Could be wrong, Stu would probably know better

 

[Embattle]

Yes most comapnies can and a number I believe have/are changing the terms under which it includes more than just Alcohol.

 

[xane]

Originally posted by Embattle
Not directly although drink driving, fighting, etc do affect other people.

I did a quick lookup and in fact since 2001 there have been bylaws that ban drinking in designated public places but this has to be locally defined and enforced.

 

[Embattle]

IIRC that followed the Zero Tolorance system in New York.

 

[Cod]

Originally posted by lecter
1. Legalise Cannabis and Ecstasy
2. Manufactered (under government licence) by a professional organisation like British and American Tobacco (cannabis) ICI/SmithKline Beecham (ecstasy)
3. Taxed Reasonably eg 1 pill = 5quid 1/8th weed = 15quid
4. Should be made available only in special government sanctioned outlets like offlicences or "systembolaget" in sweden. Clubs should be allowed to sell pills provided they have a trained medic on site.

This would basically put most dealers out of 'business', since their high profit, high volume items are taken away from them.

Deffinatly.. How those drugs are made illegal to me is baffling when drugs like alcohol are widely used. Its annoying though how anti-drug ppl are completely against pills and mary jane but think its completely fine to get completely fucked off alcohol at the weekend. We were talking about this the other week, dumping aload of pills in Afganistan and seeing what would happen..

 

[Embattle]

I think you'll find two types of drugs is enough and the idea being to reduce the usage of both of these...not add more to the current list of legal drugs.