Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

What are forum members' views on the re-classification of Cannabis as a category C drug? And what implications does it have for society?

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

I reckon its a good idea

removing the 'forbidden fruit' ststus in Amsterdam has made it so readily available that it's now
not even fashionable to smoke it any more

plus the cops have to waste too much time dealing with kids who can't pay fines anyway

as for it leading on to harder things - that's down to the personality of people
and that's the sort of thing they would have done anyway

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

personally i think it is a very bad move , i just think it will encourage more ppl to start dabbling in drugs and when the effects of cannabis arent strong enough for them then they may be tempted into stronger drugs , downward spiral time :eek: , my twopennorth anyways :)

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

I think it's about time. IMO, the success of the Dutch policy is at least partly because you can get your cannabis without having to speak to some ****hole who supplies the harder stuff as well.

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

i would agree about the ****hole bit , but i cant see it being legalised to the same extent over here somehow , therefore you would still have to speak to the ****hole who also ells the harder stuff so therefore having the possibility of trying something else :(

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

True, I suppose my point was that by criminalising cannabis, people might be more likely to go on to harder stuff, as they are already into 'illegal drugs'. The ****hole bit comes on top of that and doesn't help either.

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

How exactly will it encourage them? For all practical purposes cannabis has been a class C drug for years now, the change in legislation merely recognises the current situtation.

As for the argument that they would be tempted to try harder drugs, that relies on the old "cannabis as a gateway drug" argument, which has absolutely no evidence in support of it anyway.

I suspect that this is the only post I`m going to make in this thread as I can already anticipate the way it is going to go, and frankly it's an argument not worth having. People bang on about the harmful effects of cannabis, by smoking a joint or two you are somehow in league with the devil. However, go out into town on a Friday night, get lagered up and turn into an objectional a**ehole and that is acceptable social behaviour.

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

I don't see the point of doing this.

If they were going to do anything then full legalisation and taxation (with money raised going towards treatment/education of ALL drugs) would have been the best step. By making it class C the only people getting the benefit are the dealers.

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

but it hasnt been legally a class c drug has it !!!!!!!!!!!!!! , i still say downgrading it will make it more attractive to ppl , especially younger ones who will see it as something they can get away with lightly if caught , my opinion only of course ;)

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

You already did get away with it lightly if caught. I've known people who out on Clapham Common were merely asked to be a bit more discrete about it. Someone else I know asked a cop for directions, who politely gave him the directions and then told him that next time he might want to leave the smelly skunk at home. I`m not sure how you define getting away with it more lightly, as far as I've seen mere possession you'd get away with perfectly fine as the law currently stands.

But this ties neatly back into my argument about was is an isn`t acceptable in society. Kids can get hold of alcohol easily, so why don`t all people turn into raging alcoholics?

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

cant answer the alcohol bit , but i have heard of drug dealers giving hard drugs away just to get ppl hooked on it , so in my mind if they are exposed to cannabis by a dealer because it is seen as more socially acceptable then what is to stop them giving out freebies of hard drugs to get them hooked :(

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

This doesn't really seem to change anything. The problem I have with cannibas is that if you use it you are funding criminals. To be honest if the goverment and police are saying its not such a crime to smoke the stuff anymore I'd prefer them to let people grow some for their own use. I'd rather that than them lining the pockets of the dealers whos money goes into crime and also down the line into terrorism.

I know that sounds like a daily mail melodramatic statement, but surely its true.

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

not melodramatic at all , spot on the mark i reckon :)

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

This is where I walk away as my predictions are coming true, as soon as the discussion descends into tabloid rhetoric it isn`t worth having.

Re: Re-classification Of Cannabis
 

so what you are saying is it isnt true or do you just not like someone elses opinion :confused: