6 replies to this topic

[DodgyPhil]

Very recently "mephedrone" was made known to the British public, and thanks to the power of the hysterical, uneducated masses- it was banned. "Mephedrone" was sold online under the guise of being a 'plant fertilizer'. When snorted the drug could deliver a heavy hit of Euphoria, and a boost in energy: similar to ecstacy. The drug became incredibly popular amongst British teenagers from all walks of life, as it was cheap, easy to order, and legal. As to whether it was safe or not- there are still few answers, but there were several reported incidents involving the drug:
- An 18 year old Swedish boy died after taking a lethal dosage, prompting the drug to be banned.
- A British boy took the drug, and suffered an 18-hour long hallucination: prompting him to tear his own scrotum off- thinking it was covered in centipedes.
- A 17 year old British boy committed suicide while under the influence of the drug.

Now, it's easy to read Newspapers and make blithe judgements. Sure- Mephedrone definitely played a part in all of these young people's deaths, but the vast majority of cases have been linked to mixing the drug with other substances (something the media are less to keen to point out).
Keep in mind, the same news media that is reporting on these incidents and making statements calling for the banning of these 'legal highs', is awash with Cocaine use! Indeed, the British press has one of the highest levels of drug use after the Nation Health Service. And yet, we feel obliged to listen to these journalists taking the moral high ground.

I won't lie: my friends and I have all taken Mephedrone- and I can attest it is very strong. In fact, at least 50% of my school has ingested the drug. However, I am in no way supporting it. It is dangerous, and it is addictive. The real argument I want to put forward here is "why are kids taking these new things"?

Mephedrone is reckoned to be the best alternative to MDMA, yet MDMA has been responsible for a minuscule amount of deaths (mostly due to dehydration) in comparison to Mephedrone.
"Spice Gold" was another legal high that delivered a hit, similar to Marijuana- yet it was later proved to be far more dangerous and addictive- yet Marijuana has very few addictive properties, and absolutely no recorded deaths.
Kids are taking 'legal highs' because they want to get high- but remain within the law. The USA and Britain are launching a war, no longer on drugs, but the users themselves.

Possession of Child Porn in Britain can warrant a maximum sentence of Five years in Prison.
Causing a death on the road due to intoxication, can warrant a sentence of Five Years for manslaughter.
Possession of Marijuana in Britain can warrant a maximum sentence of Fourteen Years in Prison (if you're suspected of supplying).

The classing, and criminalization of certain drugs in Britain is inexplicable. People have been calling for the reclassification of MDMA/Marijuana for a long time- while children are turning to far more dangerous 'legal' alternatives.
People will always want to get high, and people always will get high. Almost every society for the last 10,000 years has had access to some sort of widely used mind altering substance- and this won't change.
The government's real problem is not fully understanding the problem.. As part of the war on drugs, campaigners always like to blame certain factors for drug use, accusing users of starting a habit because:

• They were depressed
• They had parents who took drugs
• They were affected by peer pressure

Ask the average Marijuana/MDMA user, and he'll probably answer "none of the above". Users take drugs, because they enjoy drugs- and unless an alternative can be found, they will keep using. All of these Public Service Announcements try to suggest that friends, family, playing sports, eating good food can compensate for drugs- but they can't. A single hit of Crystal Meth can deliver over a hundred times as much Dopamine (pleasure hormone) as eating a mouthful of good food.

I have no clue how to solve the problem of hard drugs, but I do think a distinction should be made between hard and soft. Tobacco and Alcohol alone cause more deaths (simply from ingestion, and not due to crashes) than all other drugs combined, and yet Alcohol is promoted as a 'fun drug' everyday- the Alcohol industry supporting anti-drug initiatives to try and make a distinction between good drugs (alcohol, nicotine) and bad drugs (marijuana, MDMA.. Boo)!

And the last thing I'll say as part of this incredibly long winded post: I hate alcohol. Other than the loss of inhibitions- it provides me with no pleasure. I cannot do anything creatively, nor enjoy things more- my mind is simply fogged up and moving my limbs becomes difficult. If you ever smoke Marijuana, you'll soon learn that Alcohol is a terrible, worthless drug- and I'd whole heartedly support it being criminalized.

[chini13]

Looser get addicted all these things.Drugs are just not something which will add up to the happiness anyhow.The younger generation feels it is something which makes them happening and IN.The usage of drugs spoils the fun as in addiction and in the intoxication how can one really have fun..U won't be able to enjoy life if you become addicted to such a habit.Drugs is killing the young population and making them useless with no ambition.They then add up to the other criminal and unlawful activities like theft and extortion just for the money.They just completely destroy the personality of a human being.I don't understand just for the sake of money there is easy flow of drugs by the people who have no sensitivity towards human life.
Such drugs which are harmful and which can be easily addictive to should be either banned or should be sold under serious restriction of the amount sold so that their is a complete check to it. Awareness should be spread among people the ill effects of such activities and serious restrictions should be made to them .

[sheepdog]

Quote

And the last thing I'll say as part of this incredibly long winded post: I hate alcohol. Other than the loss of inhibitions- it provides me with no pleasure. I cannot do anything creatively, nor enjoy things more- my mind is simply fogged up and moving my limbs becomes difficult. If you ever smoke Marijuana, you'll soon learn that Alcohol is a terrible, worthless drug- and I'd whole heartedly support it being criminalized.

So, maybe it's a good thing that there is a large variety of "drugs" for different peoples likes and dislikes.(I'm not sure good is the right term here actually, but you get my meaning) Personally, I have no problem what so ever with alcohol. The part about fogging up the brain is the good part, far as I can tell. You know, when you've had one of those days, and your annoyed and ticked off and just in a bad mood, the fogging up of the brain can be rather helpful. If properly used, and not overused, alcohol can be a very good way to blow off steam, relax or othewise stepp away from temporary problems in life. At least it has been around since the beginning of time, and if not overused, is not particularly harmful. Unlike chemical drugs for depression.

As far as pot goes, hate to say it, but the majority of people that I know that smoke pot seem to suffer brain damage from it. It effects whatever part of the brain that gives people a sense of purpose and direction, or the ability to get up off their butts and do something constructive. Like work. I'm not saying this is true in everone's case, just the majority of those I know.

[DodgyPhil]

Sheepdog, I am steaming mad- not because of your post, but because I wrote out a very long and well-informed rebuttal that appears to have been lost.. BLLADF! (Noise of frustration). Oh well, the gist of my- now lost- post was: I agree.

The majority of Marijuana users have no concept of self-control and have given the drug a bad image. The majority of Alcohol users are very respectable people, therefore an image of sophistication has been created.
Because Alcohol use is so engrained in Western cultures an etiquette has grown. It's acceptable for professionals to drink, but drunkenness is considered trampy. Drink awareness PSAs make it clear that Alcohol is dangerous, but can be used sensibly.
I may bash Alcohol a lot, but I drink at least once a week. Particularly in British society, where strangers are considered enemies and all friendships created over the age of 30 are a sham: social lubrication is a necessity.

Marijuana use currently has no etiquette attached to it. The majority of users are teenagers/students- the same age group who seem incapable of drinking without vomiting everywhere and stirring up trouble. Yet Alcohol isn't considered juvenile because it is widely used by everyone. Usually, students learn from there mistakes and become sensible drinkers by the age of 25, but quit smoking weed due to social pressures. The minority of people who continue smoking weed into adulthood are usually the college kids who never managed to grow up.
If marijuana was legalised and became a social norm- a generation of sensible users could be spawned. A generation of people who realise a bi-weekly spliff is a fantastic way to relieve stress, but waking-and-baking is a pointless activity.

The main problem seems to be the depiction of "addicts". Alcoholism is portrayed as a serious problem (and rightly so), but habitual marijuana smokers are considered 'hilarious' thanks to films like Cheech and Chong. A clear distinction is made between social-drinkers and alcoholics, but Marijuana users are all supposed to spaced out hippies.

Sorry, my original response was far more eloquent..

[rpgsearcherz]

I think the drug situation is blown way out of proportion. If people aren't hurting others, they should be allowed to do as they please -- in this, I mean that if you do the drugs in your own home and never leave -- you should be able to.

If nothing else, there should be villages set up for druggies so they can do them with other like-minded people.

Think about how much money we are wasting (tax dollars) on trying to stop what is going to happen regardless -- if people want to do drugs they will do them. We would save a lot of money by just letting it happen. Put the money towards something it's useful for.



Now, I don't in any way condone drugs or anything, but if you can't get people to stop, why waste our money punishing them?

[Parubilla]

sheepdog, on 28 June 2010 - 10:47 PM, said:

So, maybe it's a good thing that there is a large variety of "drugs" for different peoples likes and dislikes.(I'm not sure good is the right term here actually, but you get my meaning) Personally, I have no problem what so ever with alcohol. The part about fogging up the brain is the good part, far as I can tell. You know, when you've had one of those days, and your annoyed and ticked off and just in a bad mood, the fogging up of the brain can be rather helpful. If properly used, and not overused, alcohol can be a very good way to blow off steam, relax or othewise stepp away from temporary problems in life. At least it has been around since the beginning of time, and if not overused, is not particularly harmful. Unlike chemical drugs for depression.

As far as pot goes, hate to say it, but the majority of people that I know that smoke pot seem to suffer brain damage from it. It effects whatever part of the brain that gives people a sense of purpose and direction, or the ability to get up off their butts and do something constructive. Like work. I'm not saying this is true in everone's case, just the majority of those I know.

Well I do not defend any addictive drug, you say pot produces brain damage but so does alcohol, have you seen a person after years of taking alcohol indiscriminately how they end up? they can't get like drunk or let's say wasted like regular people does, but they are not themselves or sober anymore either, I believe all drugs such as alcohol, cigarettes, and hard drugs should be open for everyone, because it's up to you to take them or not, I say for example I drink alcohol from time to time at parties or whatever but no matter how many problems or how depressed I am, I'm not going to drown myself in alcohol or drugs.

If drugs are legalized then the prizes will go down, the drug trafficking problem is going to be more manageable for the producing countries and for the consuming countries. I think at first is going to be like a "drug explosion", and everyone is going to be high all the time, but after that I think is going to be a lot more controlled by the people part.
I believe drug legalization is not convenient for the governments or for the mafia because there's a lot of money behind it, and they are not going to let it scape just like that, I think is the double morals of our governors that on one side are saying NO to drugs and on the other they are using it or receiving money from it.

[sheepdog]

Every human is different, but I don't see alcohol causing the brain damage like pot does. I have known drunks that had been on the booze for years and years. They get up every morning, go to work, and make their living and when they get home they hit the bottle. They may go on for many many years like this. I had a friend who was a brite and wonderful girl, she got on pot and within a year she was so screwed up she couldn't even control her own bladder. She finally killed herself in a car accident. Stoned of course. But after only a year on dope she was a complete disaster. Even when she wasn't smoking you'd think she was she was so goofy. It was a tragic loss of a human life.