Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Lizzie_Zoom]

In a very familar fashon to the problems of government vs true science as highlighted by Nick, yesterday their Chief advisor, Professor Nutt, was dropped from the Advisary Council on Drug Misuse. 

Why? Because Nutt had the audacity to tell the Government of the scientific fact that alcohol and tobacco is far more dangerous than cannabis, and they don't like the truth!  Gordon Brown has already made up his mind that all and every drug is the menace contary to scientific advice.

Now another member of that Council, Dr. Les King has resigned over the Government's stance, and the Labour Peer, scientist Lord Winston has supported Professor Nutt's view that alcohol and tobacco IS more dangerous than cannabis, and the situation that has been created by the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson. "is a mess"!

Once more this Government of ours is always looking for the answers it wants (like with Afghanistan and the adequate equipment debate and those on the environmental issue) not what is the truth, provided by genuine experts in their fields of specialist knowledge!!

[HolyCount]

The Government are renowned for employing panels of experts, or in some cases "experts", at great expense, and then simply ignoring the advice if it doesn't fit in with what it wanted to do in the first instance. Or, more often, working it's way through several panels until it finds ( creates) one with which it agrees.

[albitz]

I commented on this subject on another thread about it yesterday,but I am completely convinced that the government is right.Have seen the results of this so called safe drug up close and personal - its horrific for those susceptible to its effects.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I commented on this subject on another thread about it yesterday,but I am completely convinced that the government is right.Have seen the results of this so called safe drug up close and personal - its horrific for those susceptible to its effects.

You may be right Albs, although I have found cannibis very soothing, but the main point is that you could say that far more about tobacco and drink which I have seen close up and personal with people around me and in hospital. 

If the Government were really serious about this subject they would restrict tobacco and alcohol far more than now which costs this country untold millions / billions in health treatment, along with police and the courts time.

[HolyCount]

I commented on this subject on another thread about it yesterday,but I am completely convinced that the government is right.Have seen the results of this so called safe drug up close and personal - its horrific for those susceptible to its effects.

You may be right Albs, although I have found cannibis very soothing, but the main point is that you could say that far more about tobacco and drink which I have seen close up and personal with people around me and in hospital. 

If the Government were really serious about this subject they would restrict tobacco and alcohol far more than now which costs this country untold millions / billions in health treatment, along with police and the courts time.

I think there are two alternatives:

1) Criminalise all tobacco, alcohol, non-prescription drugs (but where do you stop there ... aspirin, hay fever antidotes ...etc etc ). Naturally the Government will loose the tax revenue. (Does the tax revenues outweigh the cost to the NHS etc )

2) Legalise the drugs in line with tobacco and alcohol. Slap a tax on it and triple the revenue overnight. We still pay for treating mis-use at present, so at least some of that will then be offset. Supplies will be controlled, so safer and cheaper. The underground drugs industry will shrink somewhat, along with the criminal infrastructure it has created.

Simplistic Maybe

Ill thought out ? Probably. I am no authority on these matters.

What say you, the real people of this land ?

[albitz]

Im probably repating myself from the other thread but..........Some people who use cannabis suffer terrible damage to their minds as a result - self harming,great loss of self esteem and confidence,attempted suicide and actual suicide.Many mental health workers will testify to the fact that there is an epidemic of young people in particular having horrific mental health issues after using cannabis,the wards of mental health units are full of them.There are also many suicides as a result of it.
Alcohol and tobacco have been legal for centuries and therefore the argument is a bit different,particularily with alcohol as it doesnt cause anyone any problems if used sensibly.
Tobacco has been in use for a long time but it is only relatively recently that the dangers have become apparent.In reality,if tobacco was banned or alcohol sale restricted the treasury would probably be insolvent in a very short time due to the loss in revenue,and that is probably the biggest reason that politicians dont try to ban it.
There are also personal choice issues around alcohol and tobacco as products which have been legal and generally socially acceptable for hundreds of years,whereas cannabis is and always has been illegal and also considered socially unacceptable in many parts of society until quite recently.

[tigers_gonads]

I commented on this subject on another thread about it yesterday,but I am completely convinced that the government is right.Have seen the results of this so called safe drug up close and personal - its horrific for those susceptible to its effects.

You may be right Albs, although I have found cannibis very soothing, but the main point is that you could say that far more about tobacco and drink which I have seen close up and personal with people around me and in hospital. 

If the Government were really serious about this subject they would restrict tobacco and alcohol far more than now which costs this country untold millions / billions in health treatment, along with police and the courts time.

that will never happen liz, they make far too much money out of it in tax 

as for cannibis, don't use it myself but know plenty of people that do including 2 people who suffer from ms.

again cannibis will never be legal because it is too easy to produce 

the goverment of the day could never tax it

[HolyCount]

Im probably repating myself from the other thread but..........Some people who use cannabis suffer terrible damage to their minds as a result - self harming,great loss of self esteem and confidence,attempted suicide and actual suicide.Many mental health workers will testify to the fact that there is an epidemic of young people in particular having horrific mental health issues after using cannabis,the wards of mental health units are full of them.There are also many suicides as a result of it.
Alcohol and tobacco have been legal for centuries and therefore the argument is a bit different,particularily with alcohol as it doesnt cause anyone any problems if used sensibly.
Tobacco has been in use for a long time but it is only relatively recently that the dangers have become apparent.In reality,if tobacco was banned or alcohol sale restricted the treasury would probably be insolvent in a very short time due to the loss in revenue,and that is probably the biggest reason that politicians dont try to ban it.
There are also personal choice issues around alcohol and tobacco as products which have been legal and generally socially acceptable for hundreds of years,whereas cannabis is and always has been illegal and also considered socially unacceptable in many parts of society until quite recently.

I doubt that --- I would imagine it would have bbeen in common usage ( possibly as pain relief) for quite a while before the ill effects were considered to warrant banning, as was the case with many of the opiate family.

[waspy]

There's only one reason why the government don't want anything to do with cannibis & that's because they can't tax it.
They're not gonna say drink & fags are worst are they

[albitz]

I believe that the age limit for buying tobacco products should be raised to 21,and there should be very harsh penalties for shops etc, who break the rules.I also think there could be a good case for doing the same thing with alcohol.
Most people who smoke start young,if they havent started at 21 most wont start at all imo.

[albitz]

Im probably repating myself from the other thread but..........Some people who use cannabis suffer terrible damage to their minds as a result - self harming,great loss of self esteem and confidence,attempted suicide and actual suicide.Many mental health workers will testify to the fact that there is an epidemic of young people in particular having horrific mental health issues after using cannabis,the wards of mental health units are full of them.There are also many suicides as a result of it.
Alcohol and tobacco have been legal for centuries and therefore the argument is a bit different,particularily with alcohol as it doesnt cause anyone any problems if used sensibly.
Tobacco has been in use for a long time but it is only relatively recently that the dangers have become apparent.In reality,if tobacco was banned or alcohol sale restricted the treasury would probably be insolvent in a very short time due to the loss in revenue,and that is probably the biggest reason that politicians dont try to ban it.
There are also personal choice issues around alcohol and tobacco as products which have been legal and generally socially acceptable for hundreds of years,whereas cannabis is and always has been illegal and also considered socially unacceptable in many parts of society until quite recently.

I doubt that --- I would imagine it would have bbeen in common usage ( possibly as pain relief) for quite a while before the ill effects were considered to warrant banning, as was the case with many of the opiate family.

your probably right HC,but it has been illegal since what we would call modern times,certainly throughout my lifetime.

[Banjax]

the government look more ludicrous every day i'm afraid and say what you like about the tories but they'd never consult an expert unless they knew without fail he was singing from the same hymn sheet

cigarettes and alcohol are the worst drugs imaginable for long term ill effects and fags don't even get you high - so whats the point exactly?

[HolyCount]

I believe that the age limit for buying tobacco products should be raised to 21,and there should be very harsh penalties for shops etc, who break the rules.I also think there could be a good case for doing the same thing with alcohol.
Most people who smoke start young,if they havent started at 21 most wont start at all imo.

Very true ---- as I recall, in my younger days booze came from three places, the pub, the "offie" or a specialist wine shop -- all were stricly licensed and strongly monitored. Far easier in those circumstances to control abuse of the age restrictions.

[HolyCount]

There's only one reason why the government don't want anything to do with cannibis & that's because they can't tax it.
They're not gonna say drink & fags are worst are they

If they opened up their own supply line they could !   

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I believe that the age limit for buying tobacco products should be raised to 21,and there should be very harsh penalties for shops etc, who break the rules.I also think there could be a good case for doing the same thing with alcohol.
Most people who smoke start young,if they havent started at 21 most wont start at all imo.

Spot on I think Albs!