chem1st Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Sir Ian told the BBC there had been a "very close link" between the falling prices in real terms over the last 20 years and the amount Britons drank. "Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity like soap powder," said Sir Ian. "It is a drug, it happens to be legal, but it is a drug and there are more than 1.5 million people addicted to alcohol. We think, like other areas of public health, like smoking, like seatbelts, there is a strong case for tougher regulation and the most effective regulation would be around price." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12506127 Falling prices? Relative to what? House prices up until 2007 and gold thereafter? Petrol ~£1.30 a Litre. Beer ~ £3 for 0.568L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Keeping Cannabis illegal makes no sense. Cannabis itself has a virtually nonexistent toxicity, it is primarily the smoke itself that causes concern. Even the smoking risks have less social costs associated with them when compared to drinking alcohol. In addition, Vaporization virtually eliminates the concerns of carcinogens in cannabis. As for addiction, roughly 9% of those that consume cannabis become dependant; as opposed to 35% with nicotine or 15% with alcohol (both legal). Also, unlike alcohol, cannabis does not fuel aggressive behaviour. Ask a police officer the last time they had to stop an assault where cannabis consumption was involved. Then ask the last time they got a call to take care of an assault where alcohol consumption was involved. You will hear them state repeatedly that alcohol fuels aggressive and potentially violent behaviour whereas pot does not. Why are we driving people to drink when there's a safer alternative? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Falling prices? Relative to what? House prices up until 2007 and gold thereafter? Petrol ~£1.30 a Litre. Beer ~ £3 for 0.568L 2 litres of high strength cider= £3 or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clairelaw123 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Keeping Cannabis illegal makes no sense. Cannabis itself has a virtually nonexistent toxicity, it is primarily the smoke itself that causes concern. Even the smoking risks have less social costs associated with them when compared to drinking alcohol. In addition, Vaporization virtually eliminates the concerns of carcinogens in cannabis. As for addiction, roughly 9% of those that consume cannabis become dependant; as opposed to 35% with nicotine or 15% with alcohol (both legal). Also, unlike alcohol, cannabis does not fuel aggressive behaviour. Ask a police officer the last time they had to stop an assault where cannabis consumption was involved. Then ask the last time they got a call to take care of an assault where alcohol consumption was involved. You will hear them state repeatedly that alcohol fuels aggressive and potentially violent behaviour whereas pot does not. Why are we driving people to drink when there's a safer alternative? By this logic would making alcohol illegal not be the favoured option, rather than legalising cannabis? Edit: Is cannabis really any kind of alternative to alcohol? Alcohol is often used in social situations, cannabis is fairly anti-social. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 By this logic would making alcohol illegal not be the favoured option, rather than legalising cannabis? Yes. In a parallel universe without alcohol, were it proposed to be introduced or was used illicitly, any sane government would make it Class A and de-restrict the use of cannabis and MDMA. Harder drugs like heroin could be prescribed, saving the lives of addicts who could return to honest work, and saving untold millions in savings to the police, courts, NHS and prisons, as well as reducing up to 80% of acquisitive crime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Edit: Is cannabis really any kind of alternative to alcohol? Alcohol is often used in social situations, cannabis is fairly anti-social. Not sure where you get that idea. Passing joints and chatting is used socially up and down the country every day by millions of people. The insanity of the law is explained by pointing out that if I were to be talking to some gardener friends at the allotment and passed then a joint when it was their turn, I could be charged with dealing drugs. Money not having to change hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonzo77 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 By this logic would making alcohol illegal not be the favoured option, rather than legalising cannabis? Edit: Is cannabis really any kind of alternative to alcohol? Alcohol is often used in social situations, cannabis is fairly anti-social. You've never been to Amsterdam then have you? Live Jazz and a joint with a beer make for anything but an anti-social atmosphere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clairelaw123 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Not sure where you get that idea. Passing joints and chatting is used socially up and down the country every day by millions of people. The insanity of the law is explained by pointing out that if I were to be talking to some gardener friends at the allotment and passed then a joint when it was their turn, I could be charged with dealing drugs. Money not having to change hands. Sitting in someones flat chatting and passing joints isn't very similar to going to a few drinks, a night out, meeting new people etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clairelaw123 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 You've never been to Amsterdam then have you? Live Jazz and a joint with a beer make for anything but an anti-social atmosphere! Yes I have, but it's not really linked considering I was answering a post where referred to the legalities in this country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chem1st Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Sitting in someones flat chatting and passing joints isn't very similar to going to a few drinks, a night out, meeting new people etc. You go to different peoples flats/houses etc. and meet other smokers, purely on the basis that your smokers, you have a drink too, some take other things also, you trade goods, labour etc., eat and talk in depth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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