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Some great points, I'm with zari in that I believe the issues surrounding any substance use lay mostly with the individual rather than the substance. As mentioned above, if your will power is strong and you can use in moderation then no problem, whether we're talking weed, alcohol or other. Its the people who have addictive personalitites who can suffer or those who use to escape reality. Unfortunately i'm speaking from experience there!

very good point zari also, regarding the anti social behaviour and the way our 'social scene' is set up to make it that way for cannabis users. In my home town I feel like an outsider because I don't want to go out drinking til 2am in places that play loud, terrible music. I would rather listen to good music with close friends, in a comfortable environment where we can actually hear each other talk. If 'they' provided public places for me to do so or even allowed me to do so at home without breaking any laws, I would feel more in touch with the rest of society.

Personally, I would welcome decriminalisation but only alongside some sensible education - which is another vital issue imo. A big problem we face in the west is a lot of people still have no idea what cannabis is like and what properties it shares because they've been brainwashed with the whole 'reefer maddness' and 'drugs are bad' routine for years.

I remember being in a coffee shop in Amsterdam and being impressed by the common sense and open approach they showed. In particular, I was reading a pamphlet on the table that explained what's happening to your body when you 'whitey' (low blood sugar levels) and how to address it (take in sugary drink, stay calm etc) should you need to. Its this kind of honest, sensible and open approach to educating people that would need to accompany any decriminalisation, rather than the old propoganda form of 'dont smoke a reefer or you'll think its a good idea to jump off a tall bridge' I used to have to endure in school/society.

So decriminalise it yes but only alongside good, open education and firm controls over supply.

Harold

Like with everything weed/beer/food etc everything in moderation, I think its a jeremy kyle line that cannabis causes you psychological problems the person, its down to the person who would problery be cranky without a daily fix of caffeine, my mum uses it to take the edge of her arthritis, like I mentioned apart from the odd joint bk in the day I do not smoke but giving the choice I would make pot legal none of that super skunk s### that is laced with as many chemicals as cigarettes.

Bitcoin presented a solid investment when it first came out. Those that bought in at that time have profited, as is the case with all pyramid schemes.
Now it is a way to conduct business you do not want to be seen conducting.

The fact that it is controlled by an unsupervised authority makes it as volatile as any fiat currency.
Its electronic nature makes it vulnerable to manipulation.

As for it serving the purposes of the establishment, as a trial run for a digital world-currency, you could be right Harold.

Franky, local currencies under the supervision of the people is what I would suggest. We need to be extra careful before implementing an electronic currency, as anyone could destroy said economy with minimal resources.
Zari

Cannabis creates a psychological addiction much like alcohol, not a chemical addiction like tobacco (nicotine).
If you have a strong character (will power) and do not wish to be using the substance you can do so.

Regarding the anti-social behavior people attribute to the particular substance, it is something personal and depends on the environment.
In societies where cannabis is accepted, I have seen no evidence from its users of anything that can be described as an anti-social behavior.
Perhaps if one tries to understand that the extrovert entertainment people search for in pubs, bars and clubs are designed for alcohol consumption, then one might understand why users of other substances would opt for a more relaxing environment, where people can interact with others through discussion.

The use of entheogenic substances as party drugs stems from the lack of an understanding as to the reason why such substances exist and their effects on human nature.
Don't blame the substance for the "bad trip", blame the self.

The legalization of cannabis would revolutionize the paper, textile, rope and pharmaceutical industries overnight. That is the reason cannabis is still illegal.

Alcohol, tobacco, coffee, sugar etc. are detrimental to human health. The overconsumption of these substances is proven to cause serious health issues.
There are no proven side effects from consuming cannabis and it is practically impossible to overdose on.
Physical entities have the right to do as they wish with their bodies.
Zari

Just want to correct a typo on my post above. The HSE costs 14 billion not 14 million to run each year. Thanks.

Ryan.

Rather than debate these issues fully, they are usually introduced as part of a govt. budget, and seen as a fait accompli. We have a version of the NHS called the HSE, which employs 100,000 people and costs €14m per year to run, but nearly 2m people still have expensive insurance policies to gain treatment in the same hospitals mainly out of fear. The perception on Ireland is that if you're not insured, you will get second class treatment.

The wealthy can skip the queue to gain quicker access to consultants and treatment. Consultants who have mega contracts with the HSE (200k+) are playing both sides of the system, and openly freelance in the private sector earning vast amounts on top of their obscene salaries. They are arrogant untouchable scum, who the government is afraid of taking on.

Don't ever allow the NHS to be taken away. It is flawed, but it is a million times better than the Irish or US version. Countries like Sweden have apparently great systems, but they pay higher taxes for the service. Also the French model which is much lauded is in deep debt and needs overhauling. The NHS is the least bad option and I hope you fight tooth and nail to keep it.

Ryan.

04 Jan 2014 04:19:59
Great post mate, I have a mate that does weed regularly, he said you can't get addicted to weed but he's the same guy constantly smoking it being anti-social, born in England grew up in Australia, it's something that you can't escape, my kids have been offered weed an as young parents me and my wife do not want our kids to be accosiated with drugs as they are harmful, and cause anti social ness and other sorts of problems, my mate was depressed and went to every other drug he could, I don't want to be accosiated with it and either my kids, although I have no problem with people that smoke plant drugs, at there own risk

Cheers

Aron

Weed, blow, dope. Whatever we like to call it, will always be a touchy subject. I can grasp the whole 'it's a plant' theory. I think it was Joe Rogan who said 'if you're going to put a person in jail for smoking a plant that makes them feel happy, then you're the terrorist' something along them lines.
I fully believe that humans should be allowed to consume anything that is naturally produced on this planet.
I've seen plenty of publications on how cannabis oils can help with medical problems, even know a few people who take it for arthritic problems.
However, I really don't believe it is completely harmless. Being a young 'scally' if you like to call it, growing up in Northern Ireland. 'Blow' as we liked to call it, was a completely anti-social (anti-norm) substance.
We used to smoke it daily in our early teens, and I can definitely say getting off of it was quite hard. My friends and I used to love going to clubs, pubs, what have you, but when we really started smoking dope regularly, we gradually stopped going out and preferred to sit in each others houses just to get stoned, being really anti-social.
Any nights we did venture out to the clubs, we would have most definitely ended up taking 'E tabs' or LSD, never just a social bevvy.
All of these substances, be it chemically enhanced plant extracts, or drugs. All can be disturbing to ones mind.
I left Ireland in the early 2000's to do a bit of travelling around the U. S and sampled my 1st proper 'blunt' a cigar paper filled with pure 'weed' not a chemical filled tabbaco 'rollie'.
Again, in my shame. I became very fond of smoking 'pure weed'. Maybe I have a very addictive personality but when I decided that 'weed' was once again, in a different form, taking over my life (being lazy, anti-social). I decided to knock it on the head also and had a torrid time getting off of it, no sleep, anxiety, and short temper.
I really don't know where I stand on this subject but can give my 1st hand view that the old smoke is just as bad as most of the addictive s*** that's out there.

Sorry that should have said not a smoker!

Also, meant to add that supposedly cannabis oil in particular is a very effective healer for many symptoms/illnesses. let's just hope that any relaxation over cannabis laws leads to more people being open to the prospect of using it medically, for which it has many incredibly useful applications according to studies.

Last point, some people believe cannabis has almost the opposite effect to fluoride in that it allows one's mind to open, making it easier to critically analyse what is going on around you. I can see some merit in that personally, this is one reason why I've thought it unlikely to be decriminalised in this country but then i'm surprised its already happening in the USA.

Harold

Unless you grow it yourself weed is being messed with all types of s###, I am bit a smoker but I rather pubs and bars being allowed with weed then full of drunken Charlie heads!

H the honest answer is who knows? We would be guessing the people who thought of the idea will gain financely I am assuming, The easiest thing to do is introduce the bradbury pound.

I have a hell of respect for the Irish who have been fighting the establishment in one way or another for years but I though you guys would have fought this , I really think if they try to force this on us it will kick off and once this does I hope the Irish brothers and sister's join us, remember the more they take from us the more they want!

There are always petitions setup but none ever get enough names signed due to people scared of putting their names down on list supporting something that still illegal I know that's the view in the growing community (don't want to mark themselves) also their are too many petitions setup at a time with not enough people knowing they exist. Cannabis has so many medicinal properties that need to be explored and now hopefully in Washington state and Colorado state in USA they will now be able to explore it thoroughly

Yep i'm with Ryan, decriminalise it because users of a naturally produced substance should not be seen as criminals with any sense of logic. I would call for supply to be controlled though so as to cut out the crime element I. e. Dealers. The only problem being, of course, if we allow the establishment to control the supply who knows what nasty substances will get put in there!

Harold

What the F*£k there is no way I will ever pay for health care, I already pay national insurance, and that is still charged a much to high a rate. I will be the first person protesting on the streets if they ever try to charge me for a visit to A&E. If this happens I see this being the end of the british establishment. As franky said, the majority of people don't care but we will not let them destroy OUR NHS.

I have smoked cannabis for over ten years, daily. I have also drank alcohol for a similar amount of time and found that out of the two cannabis has far less adverse health effects. Alcohol is the worse drug I have ever taken ( and I have taken most, except some of the more "hardcore" drugs- crack cocaine and heroine etc) but the addictiveness of alcohol is dangerous in my opinion.

I would like to see it decriminalised for possession for personal use. I also think its use should be restricted to private property i. e. not in the street.

Ryan.

Irish citizen but living in UK currently, its only a matter of time I feel before it will be made legal here (Ireland as usual could be a few years behind the rest of the world). Taking into account what is currently happening in America and not forgettin developments in Uruguay, I for one would welcome legalization. The days of believing in things such as 'Reefer Madness' are finally coming to an end, it is being viewed less harshly and more and more studies are coming out to show the endless benefits from the legalization of this natural plant along with the potential for it to be taxed, especially given the current economic outlook at home. Its time criminals stopped making money off of it and innocent people stopped being made criminals because of it.

It's been happening in Ireland for quite a while now Franky. €100 FOR A&E. €500 for a fire engine call out. Getting more and more like the USA every day. If you're not loaded you're f*%$ed.

Ryan.