Time for a rethink?

Anybody who wants to buy weed can with no problem whatsoever, it couldn't be easier. It's undeniable that the war on drugs has failed, we need a new aporoach to drugs and how we handle them.

My sister's son developed schizophrenia after dabbling with cannabis just once. The consequences were horrific. Their lives are ruined.
There is a clear link between cannabis and psychosis, well acknowledged in clinical psychologists' circles. It needs to be made more publicly known, so that the risks are understood.

okocha wrote:My sister's son developed schizophrenia after dabbling with cannabis just once. The consequences were horrific. Their lives are ruined.
There is a clear link between cannabis and psychosis, well acknowledged in clinical psychologists' circles. It needs to be made more publicly known, so that the risks are understood.

   You see them on the Jeremy Kyle show like this every day apparently.

okocha wrote:My sister's son developed schizophrenia after dabbling with cannabis just once. The consequences were horrific. Their lives are ruined.
There is a clear link between cannabis and psychosis, well acknowledged in clinical psychologists' circles. It needs to be made more publicly known, so that the risks are understood.

Sorry to hear that Okocha, a friend of mine's brother has developed schizophrenia although linked to amphetamines rather than weed, I think this highlights how we need to address the problem head on and treat drug users rather than throwing them in prison as he was.

Most of the research I've read blames a genetic pre disposition being the root cause of schizophrenia rather than cannabis alone. 

But again this isn't supposed to be a thread debating the dangers of drugs, it's more saying how I think the current system we're using to tackle the issue is failing and it needs to be re-thought out.

bwfc1874 wrote:http://www.nhs.uk/news/2014/06June/Pages/Cannabis-use-genetically-linked-to-schizophrenia.aspx

This is an interesting article inasmuch that it suggests that rather than weed causing schizophrenia as often claimed in the media it suggests that people with a genetic latency for schizophrenia would be more inclined to smoke weed.
Which begs the question why none of the schizophrenia-inclined guinea pigs hadn't smoked it? Sort of undermines their own data.

Oh dear!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2782906/The-terrible-truth-cannabis-British-expert-s-devastating-20-year-study-finally-demolishes-claims-smoking-pot-harmless.html

Soul Kitchen wrote:Oh dear!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2782906/The-terrible-truth-cannabis-British-expert-s-devastating-20-year-study-finally-demolishes-claims-smoking-pot-harmless.html

I874 isn't going to be happy with this...

karlypants wrote:

Soul Kitchen wrote:Oh dear!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2782906/The-terrible-truth-cannabis-British-expert-s-devastating-20-year-study-finally-demolishes-claims-smoking-pot-harmless.html

I874 isn't going to be happy with this...

I know, but he'll be floating in his tin can!

I have seen first hand the devastating effects of long term cannabis abuse so this report simply reinforces everything I have always believed.

Soul Kitchen wrote:Oh dear!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2782906/The-terrible-truth-cannabis-British-expert-s-devastating-20-year-study-finally-demolishes-claims-smoking-pot-harmless.html

All this article proves is that you've missed the point. This isn't, 'is weed harmful?' like any drug it is; especially when used in excess. 

I'll spell it out my point for you again - 

The 'war on drugs' has obviously failed, drug users are at an all time high in Western countries (see the latest figures for Heroin abuse in America.) 

That's emphatically true for weed, it couldn't be easier to buy it so why not take a smarter approach and educate rather than locking people up? It's proven to work in other countries, hence the numerous countries relaxing laws and taking a smarter approach to dealing with the problem.

So the question is 'Is it time for a rethink?' 

Get it?

bwfc1874 wrote:
That's emphatically true for weed, it couldn't be easier to buy

You've said this before but I've asked around Whittam Towers and no one knows where to get some.

bwfc1874 wrote:

Soul Kitchen wrote:Oh dear!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2782906/The-terrible-truth-cannabis-British-expert-s-devastating-20-year-study-finally-demolishes-claims-smoking-pot-harmless.html

All this article proves is that you've missed the point. This isn't, 'is weed harmful?' like any drug it is; especially when used in excess. 

I'll spell it out my point for you again - 

The 'war on drugs' has obviously failed, drug users are at an all time high in Western countries (see the latest figures for Heroin abuse in America.) 

That's emphatically true for weed, it couldn't be easier to buy it so why not take a smarter approach and educate rather than locking people up? It's proven to work in other countries, hence the numerous countries relaxing laws and taking a smarter approach to dealing with the problem.

So the question is 'Is it time for a rethink?' 

Get it?

Whatever? Planet Earth is blue and there' s nothing I can do!?!

I think you've gone senile.

Apparently that "professor" is well known as an anti drug lobbyist in Australia.

Hipster_Nebula wrote:Apparently that "professor" is well known as an anti drug lobbyist in Australia.

Probably with good reason.

Reebok Trotter wrote:

Hipster_Nebula wrote:Apparently that "professor" is well known as an anti drug lobbyist in Australia.

Probably with good reason.

RT, all the evidence shows that the war on drugs has been a massive waste of time and money do you not think the issue needs to be addressed in a new way? It's painfully obvious that nobody can stop the flow of drugs, so why not at least make sure they're safe and regulated?

There have been numerous cases of illegal 'vodka' killing people in recent years because they want to save a few quid on the bottle. That's why product produced by alcohol companies is thoroughly safety checked to make sure it isn't. 

So when are we going to start doing the same with drugs? Instead of burying our heads in the sand and pretending our current actions are working, why not wake up and do something that is proven to improve the situation? Seems obvious to me, this isn't about a free for all drug orgy it's about regulating a multi-billion pound industry to make it safer and prevent deaths. 

This woman's story says it all, and I completely agree with her POV - 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-27811553

Reebok Trotter wrote:

Hipster_Nebula wrote:Apparently that "professor" is well known as an anti drug lobbyist in Australia.

Probably with good reason.

True, I've seen first hand family members die of the effects of Cigarettes and drown because they drank themselves into oblivion. I hope those drugs are his next target.

bwfc1874 wrote:

Reebok Trotter wrote:

Hipster_Nebula wrote:Apparently that "professor" is well known as an anti drug lobbyist in Australia.

Probably with good reason.

RT, all the evidence shows that the war on drugs has been a massive waste of time and money do you not think the issue needs to be addressed in a new way? It's painfully obvious that nobody can stop the flow of drugs, so why not at least make sure they're safe and regulated?

There have been numerous cases of illegal 'vodka' killing people in recent years because they want to save a few quid on the bottle. That's why product produced by alcohol companies is thoroughly safety checked to make sure it isn't. 

So when are we going to start doing the same with drugs? Instead of burying our heads in the sand and pretending our current actions are working, why not wake up and do something that is proven to improve the situation? Seems obvious to me, this isn't about a free for all drug orgy it's about regulating a multi-billion pound industry to make it safer and prevent deaths. 

This woman's story says it all, and I completely agree with her POV - 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-27811553

I certainly agree that there is a very strong case for regulation. It is clear that the war on drugs has had very little effect in real terms. Personally, I think proper regulation could actually benefit society as a whole because it would put a lot of drug dealers out of business.