What is your view on cannabis?

[Kardan]

A study in the US said otherwise - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...501729_pf.html

And as far as I can see after browsing online, no-one has ever solely died from smoking cannabis. But tbh, everywhere I go online I get different stories - "Cannabis isn't damaging" and "Cannabis is damaging" so I don't even know what false information people get fed anymore.

The two articles do have different conclusions, BBC says that smoking cannabis causes health issues with the lungs, but doesn't mention cancer. Yours simply says there's no correlation to lung cancer, but not health issues But I would agree with you that there probably is as many papers out there saying there is no correlation as there is... But even if half the papers saying it's healthier than cigarettes, does that make it right?

[FlyingJesus]

The BBC article also manages to miss out the fact that most cannabis smokers smoke it with a pretty hefty lining of tobacco to help it burn, as having a blunt of just weed is expensive and takes a lot of re-lighting. Their "tobacco and cannabis smokers" category is just for tobacco addicts who recreationally smoke cannabis, and I severely doubt anyone smokes them in equal quantities considering prices and addiction rates

[MKR&*42]

The two articles do have different conclusions, BBC says that smoking cannabis causes health issues with the lungs, but doesn't mention cancer. Yours simply says there's no correlation to lung cancer, but not health issues But I would agree with you that there probably is as many papers out there saying there is no correlation as there is... But even if half the papers saying it's healthier than cigarettes, does that make it right?

I wouldn't say that because it doesn't cause cancer it should be 'praised' and I would never say that it's fully good for a healthy person to smoke it constantly, but I have never understood a massive issue with it.

The study that says one cannabis joint = 5 cigarettes doesn't seem to take into account how addictive tobacco is compared to cannabis (because of the nicotine). I think it's about 32% of tobacco users will become addicted whereas the figure for cannabis is around 10% (http://healthland.time.com/2010/10/1...ine-addiction/ + http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...uana-addictive), which leads to chain smoking. If more tobacco users chain smoke than weed users, then effectively they would make up for that 1 weed joint = 5 cigs because heavy smokers get through a lot more than 5 a day. + Yes I expect there's possibility to find a source that says otherwise

Essentially though, it seems to be down to whether you think the state should intervene or not (as Marketing said). I don't think the state should intervene with matters regarding your own body and that we all deserve the individual choice (when we reach a certain age) to decide whether to take drugs or not. The same applies for alcohol and cigarettes so I fail to see why not most drugs.

[Catchy]

It stinks, but nah I don't have a problem with it. If people want the occasional smoke or whatever then it's completely their choice and no one else should really cast judgment on it. Personally not a fan of it, will have the odd drag once in a blue moon but it's not something I'd use daily as it is for some.

[Zak]

Nope, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/6922379.stm

Thank you! I never knew that, very interesting

The most important finding was that one joint of cannabis was similar to 2.5 to five tobacco cigarettes in terms of causing airflow obstruction.

[AgnesIO]

A study in the US said otherwise - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...501729_pf.html

And as far as I can see after browsing online, no-one has ever solely died from smoking cannabis. But tbh, everywhere I go online I get different stories - "Cannabis isn't damaging" and "Cannabis is damaging" so I don't even know what false information people get fed anymore.

Basically, the people who smoke it say it isn't damaging.

Everyone else with a brain cell acknowledges it is.

[GommeInc]

I used to be flat out against it but I'm slowly seeing that maybe it isn't such a bad drug after all. The problem really is legislating it. Should it only be smoked privately, be given to people for medicinal reasons or made legal and taxed?

I've never used it, the only thing I ever use is alcohol and even then I'm classy and only drink wine, sherry or shandies But from what I've been told it's not as full on as alcohol and it can be good for medicinal reasons. The cannabis debate seems to of gone quiet lately so can't really say much else until new studies and thoughts have been chucked into the mix.

[bogan]

At the end of the day it should be the decision of the individual on whether or not they wish to consume it. If it were up to me, I would put it on the same level as alcohol and tobacco legally. In regards to health, a lot of the risks associated with it can be countered by simply consuming it orally. Cannabinoids have been used to address a host of maladies and to be honest I really don't see a whole lot of negatives that can result from usage of the plant. Sure some people become slack whilst under the influence of it but others know how to moderate their consumption and it is beneficial to them mentally, emotionally and physically.

[HarrySX]

I smoke cannabis regularly with friends (switch between joints and shisha) - two or three times a week and yet I don't think it should be legalised. If the drug is more freely available the user's tolerance will build up -- meaning a lot more needs to be smoked (often with tobacco too which is the danger) -- and the side effects associated with excessive smoking will start to take its toll. Generally the health problems aren't from weed, they're from tobacco. Though if it were to be legalised it'd save the government a fair amount of tax payer's money, as outlined earlier in this thread. There's no problem with smoking it IMO, it's cheaper (!) than alcohol and won't damage your liver like excessive drinking will.

However I'm a big fan of synthetic cannabis as they're just brilliant on so many levels. No comedown and a lot of people I know just get crazy giggles. A lot of it is psychological though... someone will randomly just stop talking and it has a domino effect where everybody thinks it's suddenly worn off.

---------- Post added 05-05-2013 at 12:02 AM ----------

Basically, the people who smoke it say it isn't damaging.

Everyone else with a brain cell acknowledges it is.

That's a pretty sweeping and offensive thing to say...?

---------- Post added 05-05-2013 at 12:03 AM ----------

At the end of the day it should be the decision of the individual on whether or not they wish to consume it. If it were up to me, I would put it on the same level as alcohol and tobacco legally. In regards to health, a lot of the risks associated with it can be countered by simply consuming it orally. Cannabinoids have been used to address a host of maladies and to be honest I really don't see a whole lot of negatives that can result from usage of the plant. Sure some people become slack whilst under the influence of it but others know how to moderate their consumption and it is beneficial to them mentally, emotionally and physically.

+1 (H)

[AgnesIO]

I smoke cannabis regularly with friends (switch between joints and shisha) - two or three times a week and yet I don't think it should be legalised. If the drug is more freely available the user's tolerance will build up -- meaning a lot more needs to be smoked (often with tobacco too which is the danger) -- and the side effects associated with excessive smoking will start to take its toll. Generally the health problems aren't from weed, they're from tobacco. Though if it were to be legalised it'd save the government a fair amount of tax payer's money, as outlined earlier in this thread. There's no problem with smoking it IMO, it's cheaper (!) than alcohol and won't damage your liver like excessive drinking will.

However I'm a big fan of synthetic cannabis as they're just brilliant on so many levels. No comedown and a lot of people I know just get crazy giggles. A lot of it is psychological though... someone will randomly just stop talking and it has a domino effect where everybody thinks it's suddenly worn off.

---------- Post added 05-05-2013 at 12:02 AM ----------



That's a pretty sweeping and offensive thing to say...?

---------- Post added 05-05-2013 at 12:03 AM ----------



+1 (H)

I wouldn't call it offensive, personally though I smoke literally nothing, so obviously my stance on it is going to be against it. I have nothing against other people using it (as in, I wouldn't call the police or something ;l) - but seeing what people are like after smoking it.. could be pretty dangerous.