Weed - should it be legal?

[i-need-a-martini]

Uruguay has just changed its legislation and is now the first country in the wrold to sanction the growing, selling and smoking of marijuana.

They have done it to put the illegal drug trade and drug traffikers out of business.

Personally I think it makes sense. If nicotine is legal than there is very little difference between the 2.

Your thoughts?

http://www.smh.com.au/world/uruguay-becomes-first-country-to-legalise-marijuana-trade-20131211-hv59x...

[azureline**]

not true though, many are before the courts and in gaol for the behaviour they exhibit.... the violence etc.

[acacia_pycnantha]

I think you'll find that those before the courts are there much more  because of alcohol-fuelled behaviour than behaviour influenced by pot smoking.

[acacia_pycnantha]

Buzz . . . I understand what you are saying but I think that people should modify and control what substances they ingest by virtue of informed choice rather than by legal prohibition.

[azureline**]

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@acacia_pycnantha wrote:

I think you'll find that those before the courts are there much more  because of alcohol-fuelled behaviour than behaviour influenced by pot smoking.

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really? psychosis is a serious issue for some people who are arrested............they aren't usually alcohol fueled.

[acacia_pycnantha]

Again, I think you'll find that drug-induced psychosis is much more represented in the users of drugs like crystal-meth and alcohol and is represented almost negligibly by the smokers of pot (not in pot smokers who also drink and do meth though)

[azureline**]

I am referring to psychosis brought on by the use of pot.

[acacia_pycnantha]

Well, that is so rare, (if only pot is the drug which is used) that statistically, the problem to society (though not to an affected indiviidual) is almost negligible.

Now, if we consider alcohol-related psychosis, and meth-induced psychosis, then that is a whole lot more serious.

[kennedia_nigricans]

The significant other here:

He can do whatever makes him happy

We have made vows and we take them seriously. They did not include anything like "he can't eat or smoke that because wowsers don't approve of it"

I am sure of that and I resent the idea that other people tell us how to live our lives.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@azureline** wrote:

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@acacia_pycnantha wrote:

I think you'll find that those before the courts are there much more  because of alcohol-fuelled behaviour than behaviour influenced by pot smoking.

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really? psychosis is a serious issue for some people who are arrested............they aren't usually alcohol fueled.

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I meant to hit reply but hit kudos instead...grrr.

Actually acacia is correct. The psychotic behaviour that we link to pot is usually caused by drug cocktails. The 2 people I know who are drug addled may smoke a lot of pot but they also do/did toxic combos of drugs generally. And the one person I know who is now in a nursing home was also an alcoholic.

And research doesn't conclusively link weed to long term psychosis. Sure if you have a psychotic illness in the first place like schizophrenia then it can induce an episode but then again so can any drug, drink or wrong combo of meds for people so inclined.

But for your average person, there is no threat. For the miniscule percentage of users who suffer paranoia after smoking a joint, the effects aren't lasting.

[fourandsixpants]

I worked as a nurse many years ago. I remember one 'strange' guy in his 30's who was admitted for psychosis. He did not drink alcohol nor did he use any other drugs. He had been using marihuana 3-4 times a day for 7 years. I didn't get this from his medical notes or during a staff handover. He told me all this. He said that because of his habit he had completely 'cooked' his brain and mind. I have never forgotten this tale.....I can still see the poor guy. He had nothing.

Also, many hard drug users start off on marihuana......gravitating eventually to heroin and or cocaine.