jonc

Again, change the record or go stalk someone else otherwise I'll just make and idiot of you again.

JackClark

Pot. Kettle. Black.

jonc

I think we're all guilty of that! Or are you referring to pot, bong, psychedelic colours to stay on topic?

Funkii Munkii

Guy's chill out and wrap one up

JackClark

If anyone's interested in markets this is really interesting.

https://blog.openbazaar.org/openbaza...o-is-released/

Try to forget the association with drugs and hitmen, this and Bitcoin opens business to anyone with a raspberry pie, internet and something to sell.

thenewgalaxy

Cannabis may have some limited use for certain applications in medicine but I've always been quite sceptical about its use in pain relief, studies have never really concluded favourably in its analgesic properties.

There have been some conflicting studies over the years about how dangerous it is physiologically but the general consensus is that it's generally at least as bad as smoking tobacco, and due to the way it is smoked (no filter, packed rollup) it is considered by many to be more dangerous, and I would agree based on experience.

What is not in doubt is the drug's affect on the psychological state, and long term use is certainly detrimental and potentially very bad for those with underlying disorders.

I've seen some very misinformed posts about cannabis use on social media, anyone who thinks that smoking the stuff is benefitting in any way is clearly well baked.

I would not support it being legalised, even if I can appreciate that some people feel they should be allowed to responsibly.

markjmd

iTrader: (11)

I'm under no illusions at all that cannabis has the potential for quite serious negative health effects, even if only among the unlucky few, but I'd support legalization on the basis that the law enforcement and other resources consumed in trying to combat its use would be far better deployed elsewhere, with one condition. A law is brought in beforehand making it a specific and strictly enforced offense to supply it to anyone under 18, punishable by five years or more in prison even for small amounts.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Yep, sure you will sugar

JackClark

That's my reasoning too, plus I see a nice retirement job for my mother.

Smoking is bad full stop. Which is why you get one of these

jonc

I'm not a smoker and have no experience of vaporisers. But as I understand, whilst vapourisers are "safer" due to lack of smoke from combustion, no body knows the long term effects of such devices for getting your nicotine hit. Whilst the tobacco industry is heavily regulated, the manufacture and sale of vapourisers and the chemicals in nicotine oils etc are not, right? Wouldn't the regulation of cannabis follow the same route as tobacco with regards to vapourisers?

Besides, vapourisers still doesn't address the underlying issue of cannabis. Smoking cannabis has the same phisiological effects as with tobacco, but also the additional psychological issues with short term and prolonged use.

JackClark

Obviously safer but not without risk. Vaporising Weed might send you fruit loop but isn't likely to give you cancer.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Ask any psychiatric department how many of there current patient list are habitual cannabis or have been THC based drugs users and the figures are stark = most of them. If you know how THC works you will understand why so many "stoners" are in such a psychotic mess.

THC content of modern skunk or the hybrid South African sh*t is now about 15% higher (and increasing) than ten years ago and the effects are now hitting the stats. Alcohol consumption is coming down and the associated effects and illnesses will follow.

Nicotine is not as destructive as the other elements contained in tobacco, addictive yes.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

A paedophile, it's where they all hide like the rest of the lowlife scum.

JackClark

Schizophrenia is often associated with Cannabis use, but the number of new cases in no way reflects the growth in Cannabis use. I think people susceptible to mental illness are more likely to use cannabis, I'm sure it doesn't help, but I do believe they have issues other than smoking weed.

JackClark

Paedos don't hide themselves, you might say hello to one every day. Secure communication has lots of benefits, don't let the paedo next door ruin our privacy.

JackClark

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05r3zby

Worth a listen

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Like ISIS or the passing of child **** images.


But we digress. My partners brother is a clinical psychiatric nurse and his real life experience is that THC based drugs are a very big issue and we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg.

jonc

I complete disagree (unless you are inferring that you'd have to be "mental" to use cannabis.) A family member was sectioned for his own safety after an extreme mental episode brought on by prolonged use of cannabis. He had no history of any mental illness prior to using cannabis and has had no further episodes since giving up this drug. He disappeared from his university campus and was off the radar for several days and was in a real bad state, mentally and physically, when I found him hundreds of miles away.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Ban them all or none of them, to do otherwise is illogical!

JackClark

Trust me, there's more to that story than a few spiffs, but they obviously didn't help.

JackClark

Exactly. One US state is threatening to outlaw alcohol if they can't have weed. I'd ban a lot of prescription drugs.

Dubzy

iTrader: (4)

Afroman's new POSITIVE remix following changes to the American laws and also promoting the new weed maps app...

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

And what inner knowledge would you have on Jonc's family situation?

JackClark

It's pretty obvious, some people flip out on Alcohol, that doesn't mean we should ban it, we should find out why they drank to excess which is obviously the case with Jon's mate. And fair play to you Jon for helping them out.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Being tracked and found by jonc would be enough to leave me in a bad way

JackClark

I did snigger when 'no family history' was mentioned.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Aye

jonc

This wasn't a result to some binge session, this was prolonged regular moderate use (equivalent to 5-10 cigarettes a day?) over the course of a year or so whilst at university. According to the psychiatric physician at the hospital, his psychosis was brought on by the use of cannabis, he had no pre-existing condition or any history of mental illness. When he looks back he says what started out as relaxed chilled out euphoria, it eventually gave way to growing and overbearing paranoia, hallucinations and voices in his head which lead him to cause some serious injury to himself, frankly he was lucky to be alive.

Jokes aside, he isn't just a mate, he's my brother and was very distressing to see him that state.

There may be an argument that some people are more susceptible to the psychological effects of cannabis, and there is no way knowing who those people are. But based on my experience, legalising cannabis and making it openly available would increase the likelihood of increasing mental disorders in our population adding additional strain to an already stretched NHS.

JackClark

Sorry to hear that Jon.

Please understand that we're not winning the war on drugs, not legalising it doesn't mean people won't use it, what it means is people will be using who knows what containing who knows what rather than a tested product. With legalisation we could invest in better education which may have discouraged your brother from smoking a lot of weed - yes that is a lot of weed - whilst under the added pressure of University.

jonc

Legalising weed so that production becomes regulated and the proceeds be used to educate is just wishful thinking. You only have to look at tobacco and alcohol; kids are still taking up smoking, people are still smoking, there is still underage drinking and people still binge drink. Hospitals are filled with people with smoking and alcohol related diseases and A and E departments are inundated with drunk people who should know better. And there is still a huge black market for both. Legalising cannabis will achieve nothing in my opinion.

ps. Appreciated, but no need to applogise, it happened a long time ago.