Should Cannabis be legalised?

[Special]

Well that's simply untrue, I'm not a cannabis smoker myself but I know there have been zero recorded cases of overdosing on it and smoked alone (ie: not with tobacco) it's not as bad on your lungs as far as I'm aware - feel free to prove me wrong on that if I am. Nor is it by any stretch of the imagination as addictive.

Cannabis has both psychological and physiological effects on the human body

Acute effects while under the influence can include euphoria, anxiety, temporary short-term memory loss,[1] and circulation effects which may increase risks of heart attacks and strokes.

Concerns have been raised about the potential for long-term cannabis consumption to increase risk for schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and major depression

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_cannabis

• In some cases high quantity users can experience feelings of anxiety, depression and be seriously unwell.
• Cannabis influences driving ability.
• Smoking cannabis causes carcinogens to enter the body.
• During pregnancy, cannabis can have negative consequences for the fetus.
• Long-term use of cannabis may affect thinking, emotions and feelings.
• In some cases, long-term use of cannabis can lead to dependence and abuse.
• Cannabis can provoke a psychosis in people who are sensitive to it. More.
• Some researchers are of the opinion that:
• Cannabis is a first step to the use of hard drugs.
• Cannabis has negative effects on the immune system.
• Cannabis influences fertility.
• Cannabis causes schizophrenia. More.
• Cannabis leads to apathy and loss of interest.
• Cannabis can cause anger, especially when trying to stop using Cannabis.

http://www.web4health.info/en/answer...-long-term.htm


The list continues...

I think it's safe to say it's sufficiently worse than tobacco as smoking doesn't bring on any of these medical diagnosis'

[FlyingJesus]

Smoking cannabis causes carcinogens to enter the body.
During pregnancy, cannabis can have negative consequences for the fetus.
Long-term use of cannabis may affect thinking, emotions and feelings.
In some cases, long-term use of cannabis can lead to dependence and abuse.
Cannabis influences fertility.
Cannabis can cause anger, especially when trying to stop using Cannabis.

They all happen with tobacco, and the fact that cannabis is pretty difficult to get addicted to unless you have an extreeeeeemely low tolerance or actually try to smoke it all day every day means that the risk is rather less.

As for the psychological issues, it's generally accepted that cannabis doesn't cause them, but (as one of the points you quoted said) can provoke it in those sensitive to them - for example someone who already has schizophrenic tendencies may find them enhanced through overuse of cannabis.

Usage making people feel unwell and unable to drive is hardly an uncommon factor with drugs, and if it was legalised there would of course (as there already are) be laws against smoking and driving or being under the influence at work/school etc.

[GommeInc]

Well that's simply untrue, I'm not a cannabis smoker myself but I know there have been zero recorded cases of overdosing on it and smoked alone (ie: not with tobacco) it's not as bad on your lungs as far as I'm aware - feel free to prove me wrong on that if I am. Nor is it by any stretch of the imagination as addictive.



Cocaine, speed and MDMA are pretty much scentless, dunno about heroin but I imagine that doesn't leave you smelling funky either. Is smell really an issue when it comes to legality?



Where are you getting this from? And do you mean worse as in for your health (which it isn't), for addiction (which it isn't) or what?

I quote:

"Drugs are for stupid and/or boring people trying to be cool or admitting they have a problem being fun or lively. It's not even a social drug because you STINK while you take it and after - just as bad, if not worse, than someone who has recently smoked tobacco. At least alcohol is scentless at a distance."

So I'm guessing you never actually read what I posted? You seem to of just cut parts out which related to other parts of the post making them seem irrelevant, like taking out parts of a song to make them meaningless or out of context :/ And the fact tobacco and alcohol are legal seems to be beyond you, referring to illegal drugs would be a waste of time and off topic. Besides, it's kinda obvious I was following opinion, not factual numbers (though irrelevant, seeing as I started off saying drugs are for losers who have more money than sense (or none at all).

Cannabis smells worse than tobacco. If I wanted to make my eyes water, I'd just sniff cut onions.

[Alkaz]

I would say legalise it because there are more stuff thats legall which is worse then cannabis but saying this the main problem is that if it was to be legalised then people would obviously think its safe because its legal :rolleyes:

I think its fine the way it is but yeh do agree with post above that laws should be more relaxed.

bold = alot because its so new its not been tested and gone through the classification.

They should just leave it. I know peoples lives who have been destroyed by it so no legalisation thanks.

[FlyingJesus]

I only left out the last sentence.. don't know why you've requoted the part I already quoted and wrote about - I hardly think your view on the type of people who take drugs is a useful part of a debate on its legal status, especially when it's an unfounded opinion.

Not sure what you're trying to say with "the fact tobacco and alcohol are legal seems to be beyond you" when we're discussing cannabis which isn't legal, and therefore that clearly is not a waste of time or off topic. That aside, it's fairly well known that if tobacco and alcohol were discovered just now with us having the knowledge we have of their effects (and not having the massive taxes on them) they'd certainly be illegal drugs. Your entire debate point seems to rest on the fact that you personally don't like the smell of cannabis, and think that alone is grounds to keep it illegal. I'm sure that's not the case, but that's what you've written.

[Jordy]

Indeed it isn't as bad on your lungs as Tobacco, nor is it anywhere near as addictive as previously stated. Put it this way, if I had the choice of which one to smoke I would choose Cannabis.

I don't see any real need to legalise it, it should remain illegal but don't classify it too high (No pun intended) as police/customs really don't really need to spend much time on it as there are far worse illegal drugs. Seeing as the government are trying to help people give up smoking it would be a rather stupid thing to do, and it's certainly not good for you (There are a few exceptions to this but seeing as you can now get it prescribed there's no need to get into this debate), the only benefit from it would be taxation.

[Soy]

I think canabis should be made legal as it makes you look cool

[Black_Apalachi]

I don't think it's any worse than tobacco or alcohol but legalising it will only encourage it, which is not desirable. I don't think any illegal drug will ever be legalised for the same reason. There aren't really any benefits to it unless the government sees some tasty taxing opportunities.

[GommeInc]

I only left out the last sentence.. don't know why you've requoted the part I already quoted and wrote about - I hardly think your view on the type of people who take drugs is a useful part of a debate on its legal status, especially when it's an unfounded opinion.

You never quoted it, you went on some sub-rant about illegal drugs :/ Infact, most of what I said wasn't replied to :/

"Drugs are for stupid and/or boring people trying to be cool or admitting they have a problem being fun or lively."

That's really the only reason people want it to be legalized, the medicinal reasons are non-existent or useless if you do not require them. Like tobacco, it can't be used socially because the drug itself stinks to high heaven which means it cannot be smoked publicly, because it will be treated the same as tobacco, you just get chucked outside because you stink and the general public would not want it, and because it's not popular the chances of it being with the same respect as tobacco where you can smoke it outside in wide open spaces is merely a dream. If tobacco was discovered now, it would probably go the same way (although there has to be one drug to start the catalyst of anti-drugs). No-one particularly wants tobacco because of the non-existent health benefits. The non-social benefits though (with tobacco, there are arguably NO benefits, seeing as any pros are outweighed by the cons), are again, non-existent if you do not require them, even though the smell is disgusting (social), the drug itself isn't harmful as smoking it firsthand, though the second hand high might be of concern to many people (more reason it probably won't ever be legalised, in a health and safety crazy world) - children, elderly etc. Not very good giving them random highs

Not sure what you're trying to say with "the fact tobacco and alcohol are legal seems to be beyond you" when we're discussing cannabis which isn't legal, and therefore that clearly is not a waste of time or off topic.

I see, so you would rather discuss two things which are illegal? Making no comparisons to anything that is considered legal? You've got to discuss legal comparisons to gain a greater understanding of the legal world, comparing just one side is a waste of time and unproductive :/

That aside, it's fairly well known that if tobacco and alcohol were discovered just now with us having the knowledge we have of their effects (and not having the massive taxes on them) they'd certainly be illegal drugs. Your entire debate point seems to rest on the fact that you personally don't like the smell of cannabis, and think that alone is grounds to keep it illegal. I'm sure that's not the case, but that's what you've written.

No, you just cannot read It's kinda obvious my point falls on the belief that new drugs should not be introduced, when the legal ones are terrible anyway:

:-Cannabis stinks, at least alcohol is scentless - Kinda obvious that I'm saying alcohol isn't any better than cannabis
:-We do not want another pointless drug that has no real purpose in the real world to the masses :/ - Another being a keyword here, another reflecting on legal drugs that cause alot of problems.
:-Just as bad, if not worse, than someone who has recently smoked tobacco - It's obvious tobacco isn't seen as amazing either.

[Cheryl]

I think it should be legalized because, the young kids only really start because either their friends do it to try and be cool, or because they want to be the rebels them selves.
If it was legal the cool factor would be lost in my opinion.
Also there are scientists who say it is less harmful than alcohol or tobacco.