In one word, NO! (Should cannabis be legalised?)

Member Name: wiggglypufff

Product:	Should cannabis be legalised?
Date:	12/03/02 (502 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It remains illegal for the time being

Disadvantages: Can't see it staying that way for long.

Okay, you may've guessed from the title that my simple answer to the question 'Should cannabis be legalised?' is NO! I'm probably not going to win any popularity contests for my views - I realise that the general consensus is a big old yes, but hey, I like to be different.

Being serious though, this opinion is not about being different, making a stand purely to be noticed, or wanting to start a riot amongst the masses. It's about my thoughts and feelings on the subject matter (NOTE - I'd advise getting a drink and making yourself comfortable, this is a LONG op)...


What I Think
=========
My views may perhaps seem a little odd to some people. I will openly admit I have used cannabis, for both recreational and health purposes, but yet I'm still saying no to legalisation.

I don't believe that cannabis should have a place in society as a legal recreational drug. No, I'm not that naive as to think it doesn't already commonly exist in society, but I don't believe it should be totally dismissed as harmless, or allowed to be free for all.

The way I see it is that most reasons for the legalisation are simply not sound enough to make it the correct way to go forward right now. Whilst I'd never refuse to listen to a well reasoned argument presented to me, I've yet to hear one that isn't lacking in some way.

But before I launch into my reasoning, lets start with the basics... On the off chance that there is anyone out there who has no knowledge whatsoever of cannabis, I suppose I should really give you a little information about the drug itself.


Cannabis Facts
==========
¤ Derived from - Cannabis sativa plant

¤ Also known as - Marijuana, Pot, Dope, Hash, Hashish, Gear, Smoke, Puff, Weed, Grass, Draw, Black, Ganja, Leb, Morrocan

¤ Common forms - Herbal (dried), Resin (compressed block), Oil (extracted liquid)

¤ Ad
ministered by - smoking as a joint (rolled with tobacco), smoking in a pipe or bong (no tobacco), drinking (infused to make 'tea'), eating (baked into cakes etc)

¤ General status in UK - illegal since 1928

¤ Medical status in UK - illegal since 1971 (change expected 2004)

¤ Street cost - approx £15 per 8th ounce


Medical Use
========
Many arguments for the legalisation of cannabis stem from a health point of view, and I wholeheartedly support it's use for that purpose. Trials running in the UK at present involving derivatives of the cannabis plant are expected (if successful) to lead to the drug in tablet or spray form becoming available on prescription to those who would benefit from it. (This could be as soon as 2004). But that is not for one minute the same issue as general legalisation.

Look at the facts... methadone is legal as a controlled drug, given on prescription to heroin addicts so it reaches the people it will help. Prozac is legal as a controlled drug given on prescription for depression. But are they generally legalised drugs? Nope. They're legal simply for medical purposes. Now before I get shot down in flames for that comment, I am not classing cannabis and all controlled prescription meds on the same danger level. I'm just trying to make a point. Medical use and recreational use are totally unrelated issues as far as the legal side goes.


General Debate
==========
What are the other reasons that people offer for it's legalisation then? It's not known to have any major side effects. It's less harmful than smoking and drinking alcohol. No-one has died from a cannabis overdose. It would take pressure off the police force and free up resources for 'serious' crime. It could be safely regulated. The government don't want to be seen as backing down, admitting they might be wrong about it.... the list goes on. So, lets take each of t
he above points and put them under scrutiny.


Side Effects
------------
Just because it's not reputed to have any major long term side effects does not mean it doesn't have any. It means they mightn't have been found or proven yet. The cannabis plant has some 400 chemicals in it, some of which are thought to be carcinogens (cancer causing). It’ll be a long long time before each and every one of those chemicals can be fully examined and cleared on health grounds.

Who knows the effects in 50 odd years time on the generation of today that are habitual pot users? Can you time travel to the 2050's and see what those people are going to be like then? Or I could take that a step further and say can you even be sure those people would still be alive if you travelled 50 yrs on in time? No! Now it would be fair enough to say that I can't say one way or another either, but we can call that a no score draw if you like. Nobody knows for sure one way or the other. Lots of assumptions, but no 100% proven facts.


Potential To Harm
-----------------
The cannabis v smoking/drinking issue is another pet hate of mine I'm afraid. A large percentage of dope users will be smoking it, rolled up with baccy as a joint. Tell me, how can that be less harmful than a normal ciggie? No proper filter, and inhaling the smoke of two substances, one of which IS already proven to be harmful. Smoking pot may be considered no more harmful that a regular ciggie, but to say it's less harmful is simply not true.

Much the same applies to the alcohol side of that argument too. Alcohol is legal, but in excess is harmful, and that's a proven fact. If we knew then when it was made legal what we know now, do you think that would still be the case? Would alcohol or tobacco ever have been made legal is someone could've time travelled 50 years on to look at the devastating effects? I seriously doubt it. As the ol
d cliche goes, two wrongs don't make a right. Can anyone justify making that same mistake over again with pot?

As for the effects on personality and behaviour whilst stoned, it’s a very mixed bag. I go off on various different tangents. I can talk for England, (although probably the biggest load of trash I’ve ever spouted), get giggly to the point of hysterical laughter, become very relaxed and sleepy, or simply withdraw to the point of wanting total space and solitude. My concentration span becomes similar to that of a 2yr old.

Would I be safe out on the street? That’s a debatable point. I wouldn’t be a danger to other people, but I would quite possibly be a danger to myself! Would I be safe behind the wheel of a car? NO! Not in a month of Sundays!!!!


No Death (yet)
-------------
As for the fact that no-one has died from cannabis use, that is probably a point I cannot dispute, BUT, that is based on the effects of consumption alone. If a drunk driver crashes a car and ends up dead, they haven't died due to the alcohol itself, but as a result of an act performed whilst under the influence. The same reasoning can be applied to cannabis. Just because it doesn't kill, doesn't mean you can't end up dead as a result of an action whilst under the influence.

[Incidentally, bear in mind that many drugs before being presented to the general public are tested on animals to gage the effects. Cannabis CAN, depending on species, comatose and kill animals.]

It's all pretty much speculation where pot is concerned though isn't it? As much as I can't prove I'm right, I don't think you can outright prove I'm wrong either. We're in a stalemate situation really aren't we? So, let's move on, and look at another statement often presented in the ongoing debate.


Wasted Resources
----------------
Pot should be legalised to save
wasting police resources. By legalisation, the police could concentrate on the real criminals. And that's right is it? I don't mean is that a correct assumption, because logically of course it is. What I'm saying is, is it actually right, is it morally the right reason to legalise the drug? My answer, in short and simple terms, is no it's not! It's nothing more than a cop out.

Let's make a comparison to the NHS... resources are low there too. Many people go months, if not years, without proper treatment. They're on waiting lists because it's not physically possible to deal with everyone at once. So, what should we do? Refuse to treat people over the age of 45 because they've had a decent shot at life already. Or should we allow people one hospital treatment in their life and when they've used it that's their turn gone.

Wouldn't it be scandalous if that were the case? Would anyone agree to that? NO! Under funding in the UK is an issue widespread across many professions, but it doesn't mean we should sit back and accept it as a reasonable argument for legalising cannabis.


Total Control
-------------
Why would making Cannabis legal all of a sudden make it anymore easy to regulate than now? If the police force are already pushed to the max just trying to enforce the law as it is, who has the time or money to set up quality controls, monitoring, and a new set of laws as to terms and conditions of use (ie age restrictions, driving laws etc)

If cannabis was legalised, the only realistic way the government would be able to fund the proper supervision of this drug as they attempt to do with alcohol and nicotine would be by taxing it. This would up the price, and cause the black market to continue thriving.

Nice theory, but just doesn't really work!


Can't Back Down
---------------
Hmmmm, anyone who claims this as an argument (the governm
ent being scared to back down and lose face) would be better using their time to follow the news stories. The government have taken quite a dramatic turn around in their stance on Cannabis over the last couple of years.

In March 2000, suggestions were put to the government for the reclassification of two drugs. It was suggested Ecstasy to be downgraded to class B, and cannabis downgraded to class C. Then 'drugs czar' Keith Hellawell categorically stated this was not on the agenda for consideration.

Fast forward 18 odd months to October 2001 and Home Secretary David Blunkett announced his intention to downgrade Cannabis to a Class C drug. Parliamentary discussion and voting led to a formal proposal being put forth to the ACMD (Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs).

The ACMD do a case study and report back their findings - if they have no major reservations, reclassification can be done without any change in legislation being made. (Consultation with the ACMD is statutory in cases of drug reclassification, as the ACMD comprises of experts in the fields of pharmacology, psychology, medicine, chemistry and those who work with drug users. Therefore, it is considered that they can give perhaps the best overview on all implications of reclassification).

Look at the above and tell me are the government scared of backing down? No! They just want to be sure what they propose and carry through is in the best interests of everyone involved.


What I Think
=========
Hopefully you can see my points of view, even if you don't agree (and I know I'm going to get slammed in the comments section by the pro-pot lobby, but hey that's life!). For all the reasoned arguments presented in favour of legalisation, there is just as strong a case to be put forward that still goes against it.

So, we're still in a stalemate situation aren't we? Not making much progress on either cause. Each pro has
a con, or (so as not to be accused of being single minded) each con has a pro. There are indeed two sides to every story.

At the end of the day, whilst the pro-pot lobby are looking for changes in the law, perhaps one reasoned argument I can offer them is what is actually wrong with the law? How many actually know it, are aware of the implications, and have rationalised the theory behind it?



The legal Side
=========
Hmmm, this is not (unfortunately) a totally cut and dried issue, but I'll try to explain as best I can.

Until David Blunkett's October announcement, cannabis in most forms was a Class B drug (with exception to cannabis oil which was in fact Class A). That meant generally cannabis possession carried a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment, and a fine. Dealing in cannabis carried a maximum penalty of 14 yrs imprisonment and a fine.

As far as I am aware it has not yet been formally stated that cannabis is now reclassified to a Class C drug, BUT (isn't there always a but) it is expected to be the case, and many police forces since the October proposals have been advised to take the stance of it being a Class C drug already.

Possession of a Class C drug is NOT an arrestable offence, so it may as well be legal, right? WRONG! What it means is that people cannot be arrested there and then for possession of the drug, but a caution, warning or court summons can still be issued, and a maximum penalty of 2 yrs imprisonment can still be applied. Dealing remains an arrestable offence, but with a reduced maximum penalty of 5 yrs imprisonment.

This scheme was actually being tried far earlier than the general public were made aware of though, and was implemented in some London areas back in the summer of 2001. (It became big headline news in January of this year).


What I think
========
If cannabis remains illegal and as a Class C drug, surely that could suit ever
yone? I feel it would be the best situation all round. Whilst it offers discretion and leniency to the police force in terms of the action they can take over those found in possession of cannabis, it still allows action to be taken against those who seriously abuse the drug (dealers etc).

Why aren't people happy with this? Isn't this the best of both worlds? Doesn't it make sense? Why keep campaigning for pot to be legalised when those that possess it for personal use only are likely to be given a rap on the knuckles? Even if it is pursued to court, the average fine given is just £10.

Let the police keep the authority to intervene in cases that are suspected to be more than just personal use, whilst at the same time give them the right to use discretion, to effectively turn a blind eye.

Well, that's some 2000+ words... have I made anyone on the pro-pot side think again? Have I managed even to put a tiny bit of doubt in someone's mind as to whether legalisation is the right way forward? I truly hope so. But even if I haven't, please credit me with not having based my case on the most common anti-pot argument about progression to harder drugs... It is a relevant issue though.

Perhaps ultimately the way a person is swayed from 'sitting on the fence' into a set of beliefs for or against is through personal experiences. People that have only seen the good will almost certainly sit in the pro legalisation lobby, while those that have seen the bad will usually fight for the anti pot camp. What about those who have seen both? Do they remain on the fence with an arse full of splinters?


My Story
======

Perhaps where I'm 'lucky' (and I really use that word in the loosest context simply because I'm at a loss for another right now) is that I can draw on personal experience for the good, the bad, and the ugly side of this drug. Maybe that is why I am happy to see it us
ed for medicinal purposes, but not for recreational use.

It's easy to take a rather positive stance if all that you've seen are the good side effects of dope, and it's fair to say that some people may only ever experience that side. But how exactly are you going to feel when you hear, see, in fact live the bad 24/7. When you see a grown man crouching down, cowering in a corner like a child because he's having hallucinations, when you watch a loved one doubled up in pain because of some dodgy gear, and when your own strength, dignity and even morals are broken down and close to being destroyed are you still going to feel the same? If that sounds all too much, think again. Admittedly, it may not be the norm, but it does happen and I know because I was there some 10 years ago...


Sept '89 - Friendships
---------------------
Ooooohh, I could have many of you screaming at me with disgust if I blamed my friends and said they drew me into the bad life, so I won't. I have a mind of a my own (of which hopefully you've gathered by now) and for months of hanging around with new found friends that smoked dope I didn't touch the stuff. But I didn't really have any opinion of it then, I just didn't know much about drugs other than alcohol and nicotine.

There was no peer pressure though, no-one thought less of me because I'd choose a shot of vodka rather than a joint. We'd go out sometimes after work - I got pissed and they got stoned, it suited us all just fine.


Oct '89 - Relationships
-----------------------
I got a little more insight when I started 'seeing' one of the lads within the group of friends. We went to parties and I was always the last person standing, because everyone else was stoned. And we weren't just talking teenagers, but adults too!!! Yeah, okay, I was a touch naive in those days. The first time I saw a friends mum rolling a joint I n
early fainted with shock.

I didn't see any obvious danger then either though. Hey, everyone was doing it, even 'normal' people. My friends were a mixed bunch - workers, students, some from rough backgrounds, others with the most wonderfully loving parents you could ever imagine. Intelligent ones, and those that were thick as... you get the picture.


Dec '89 - Break Ups
-------------------
Things didn't work out with 'Mr October' for want of a better name to call him. My life was complicated right then (but that's another op, lol), and although we remained close friends in terms of a proper relationship we weren't destined to be.

We still hung out together and did stuff within our group, he still smoked dope and I still drank - but there was never any pressure for me to try it and I still didn't have any desire to at that time.


May '90 - Young Love
-------------------
Things ticked over for 5 months, and I got close to another of the group. This was to be the start of my real awakening to the whole pot thing. He worked and lived in a hotel, so there was no worries about me stopping over the night. As we spent more time together (remember this was 'young love' so we were suffering 24/7 hip attachment syndrome for a while) I saw how his life revolved around dope.

The last thing he did before he went to bed was have a joint, the first thing he did in the morning was have a joint, and you can guess what he spent his work breaks doing... I wanted to get into his world, and see where he was coming from, but I couldn't. It's like trying to explain what marmite tastes like, you have to try it to know for sure.


June '90 - Up Close and Personal
-------------------------------
Wow! My head felt hazy, but in a kind of nice way. I felt relaxed, and dreamy. Completely at ease with myself, with life... yup, that was my firs
t joint of many.

Sex was totally amazing, I could ditch all my inhibitions and be the real me. What a wonderful feeling, I was in love (okay, so I probably loved everyone and everything at that precise moment in time), and without a care in the world. Could things have possibly been any better?


Aug '90 - Heaven and Hell
---------------------------
Pot became a regular part of my life as well. I wasn't smoking it 24/7, but it was a regular occurrence. I thought we were getting closer, that I'd got into his head, his heart, deeply inside his exciting world.

But it was far from all good. I used little money I had to bail him out of debt. I didn't ask what the debts were from, although looking back it doesn't take much working out really. I carried on though, ignoring what I didn't want to see and closing my ears to what I didn't want to hear.


Sept '90 - Family Values
-----------------------
We got engaged in September and I felt a lot happier for a while with a bit of security (I paid for both the rings though, surprise surprise). But things went wrong. A close friend of ours had a serious accident and was in hospital close to death. At the same time my fella was supposed to be moving to London with his work.

It was a stressful time, and we both used pot more and more as a method of coping or just to shut out what we couldn't cope with (I'm not sure if there was a difference really). He did go to London though, and we were still engaged, but I felt isolated and very much alone.


Dec '90 - Merry Christmas...
-------------------------
He left London and came back to be with me again full time. In that time I'd realised I didn't need dope to survive. I'd been through worse than being parted from a loved one before, and I'd survived. I was not hooked, and could take it or leave it.

He, though, came back dependant
as ever if not more so. Still, I kept smiling, pretending everything was okay, and bailing him out with money - jeeze was I stupid!!


Jan '91 - ...and A F**ked Up New Year!
-------------------------------------
He got a new job, started staying out a lot, and when he was off work he was barely coherent. Then, all of a sudden he moved out. Said he had a friend who needed a flatmate and he was gone like a shot.

He come back some nights after work, but mostly when he needed cash. (he told me there was a problem and he hadn't been paid). I can still see his face one night when he was laying in bed doubled up in pain, and crying because he thought he was going to die. He'd had some dodgy gear. It wasn't enough to put him off though.


Feb '91 - Roses and Heartache
----------------------------
Valentines day, my birthday... they weren't remembered. I doubt he knew his own name sometimes let alone what day of the week it was. Don't they say love is blind though. I was still giving him the little money I had coming in.

I was due to meet him in town one day. I stood in the pouring rain for two hours, and he never showed. I phoned his work, they said he wasn't there - he'd left. I didn't think too much of it then, just presumed he'd forgotten. Later in the evening with still no word from him though, I went to his workplace. When they said he'd left, they meant he'd quit. Whilst I had been waiting in the rain he was on a train to London. I questioned about his wages, and they said he was fully paid up - not owed a penny.

I knew where he'd be, and once home in floods of tears I phoned the pub. The licensee's wife answered, and told me he wasn't there. I could hear his voice in the background but didn't have the strength to argue about it.

He did speak to me the next day though and he said he hadn't told me he was going coz he di
dn't know how to - didn't want to hurt me.


Mar... '91 - Lies, lies, and more Lies
-------------------------------------
We attempted to wipe the slate clean, and start a fresh. On his days off he came down to stay, and we went to drugs counselling together. I thought the first session went well, but then he found any reason not to go back - he'd change his days off, arrive home too late, anything at all so as not to go. But he told me he was in control.

In mid April I moved up to London with him. We were back to 24/7 togetherness and 24/7 lies. I would question so much, then give in. It was probably better I didn't know everything. His dope addiction was anything but under control, he was so stoned he couldn't function a lot of the time.

So he took speed to perk himself up, and when speed wasn't having a good enough effect, he took coke. I tried it as well. I suppose despite everything I still wanted to get inside his head, see what it was like, what the attraction was. I couldn't though!

Regulars at the pub loved him. I was constantly told what a great guy he was, and I wanted to scream and shout what he was really like, but I smiled sweetly (as you do) and agreed. All I wanted was a normal life though, so I moved back to home (Kent) in September.


Oct '91 - The End?...
--------------------
We split up, the long distance thing wasn't working. He never came down when he was due, always said he had to work, and I know many times that was untrue. We stayed in contact, although it was me who had to go up to see him. We carried on sleeping together, and doing stuff, but without the ties.


Nov '91 - ...Or Just The beginning?
-----------------------------------
He decided to get out of London too and came back to me. We started planning the wedding. Can't help thinking now that he just needed somewhere to go, something to fall back on
and I was the easy target. But at the time I was still desperately trying to believe he did love me.

So, we were back together in Kent, with all the old crowd again. They'd moved on too. It wasn't just dope and speed, but acid and ecstasy. I was still very much in the 'take it or leave it' state of mind but I did experiment a few times. Going out was a nightmare, always in fear of getting stopped by the police

What a turn around huh? Less than 18 months from my first joint and I was experimenting with Class A drugs carrying a penalty for possession of 7 yrs imprisonment (and life for dealing).



Mar 2002 - Right Here, right Now
--------------------------------
I could've gone on with many more months of scenario‘s, some more harrowing than others, but I won't ask you to endure anymore. I expect most of you switched off quite some time ago anyway. Maybe I didn't need to tell my story, but I felt it was the best way to show what can and does happen.

Me and 'him', in case you wondered, split up in Nov '92, six months before our wedding. The last I heard from him was in Feb '93, and it wouldn't surprise me if he's dead now. If the drugs didn't finish him off I expect a dealer would have done.

Physically I'm okay, and haven't touched any illegal drugs other than cannabis since Nov '92, but it took me several years to get back on my feet financially.

I still use cannabis occasionally, but I don't rely on it (For the record, the last joint I had was over 6 months ago). Today I still have just two addictions - caffeine and nicotine.

I cannot categorically state that progression to harder drugs (or the so-called 'escalation' theory of the mid-80s) is always going to happen. I know people who have happily smoked dope for years and never touched anything else. But, I hope I've shown it can happen. It’
;s not solely about cannabis the drug, but about the people and situations you can be exposed to through cannabis use.




What I Think (for the last time, you'll be pleased to hear)
==================================

I think (hope) that I've presented each point well enough to make a few people question whether what seems to be the majority vote (legalisation) is really right. I've tried to look at many different points of view and offer a reasoned argument for them all. Even if just one person stops and thinks before dismissing cannabis as harmless then I have achieved what I wanted to.

Cannabis effects us all so differently that a general legalisation is not really the way to go. Hey, if you could go to the doctors and be tested for 'dependency-likelihood', 'future-side-effect-syndrome', or 'escalation-theory-itis' I'd perhaps change my views. But it's still very much an unproven quantity, and needs to be treated with caution for a while longer yet.

Just for the record, despite my views I wouldn't be surprised to see cannabis legalised in my lifetime, perhaps within the next decade even. If it does then go pear shaped, who the hell will we have left to blame?

Thanks for reading. I look forward to the comments...

Karen :o)

Summary: