Raid revealed 1,700 cannabis plants (From Swindon Advertiser)

On 6th November 2012 Colorado and Washington state legalised cannabis for adults!

Are we so stupid in Britain that we cannot learn the lessons of history? If we prohibit something for which there is huge demand then the price rises and violent criminals become involved.

If we introduced a legally regulated system we would solve nearly all the problems around cannabis. Science proves how much safer it is than tobacco, alcohol, prescription medicines and all other recreational drugs. The evidence is that where legal regulation is introduced, consumption by children and all health and social harms are reduced.

Doctors would be able to prescribe one of the most effective medicines that has no serious side effects at all. At the moment the government has given GW Pharmaceuticals an illegal monopoly on cannabis so they make millions out of a medicine that you can grow in your greenhouse for virtually nothing.

Independent, expert research also indicates that a tax and regulate policy on cannabis would produce a net gain to the UK economy of up to £9.3 billion pa.

Our present policy on cannabis is irrational, irresponsible and dangerous. Surely, this inevitable and long overdue reform will now begin to roll out across the world?

Schmoke and a Pancake?

Worth 1m!!!!! Not a chance, this is another example of the police and the press blowing things out of proportion for the sake of anti cannabis propaganda. Wake up britain, we should be looking into regulation not wasting valuable police time and public money persecuting people for growing a plant. Yes 1700 plants will raise eyebrows but if regulated there wouldnt be the need for commercial type grows, we could grow say 6-10 plants in our own homes for our own use, this would go some way to stop criminal gangs making money to fund yet more crime. Regulation and de-criminalisation is surely the way forward. (In my opinion).

"""Doctors would be able to prescribe one of the most effective medicines that has no serious side effects at all.""""

Apart from all the health risks that go with smoking you mean!

And you think the dealers would just fade away instead of looking at other ways of making money you are deluded and have clearly been smoking far too much of the product you so clearly use and support.

Apart from an admission that we cant police it which is hardly the way to run a legal system (if we cant control it make it legal) it would no doubt increase the number of drug takers not reduce it. We have enough trouble from legalised drugs in this country as it is, we dont need to increase that number, we need to try and educate people that you actually can "have a good time" without the need to resort to mind altering drugs rather than using your intelligence or imagination to enjoy the "real" world.

Legalising it is not the answer, stiffer penalites are needed for those who break the law instead of this "softly" approach that people just think is a joke and clearly is.

Babs Stanley wrote:
On 6th November 2012 Colorado and Washington state legalised cannabis for adults!

Are we so stupid in Britain that we cannot learn the lessons of history? If we prohibit something for which there is huge demand then the price rises and violent criminals become involved.

If we introduced a legally regulated system we would solve nearly all the problems around cannabis. Science proves how much safer it is than tobacco, alcohol, prescription medicines and all other recreational drugs. The evidence is that where legal regulation is introduced, consumption by children and all health and social harms are reduced.

Doctors would be able to prescribe one of the most effective medicines that has no serious side effects at all. At the moment the government has given GW Pharmaceuticals an illegal monopoly on cannabis so they make millions out of a medicine that you can grow in your greenhouse for virtually nothing.

Independent, expert research also indicates that a tax and regulate policy on cannabis would produce a net gain to the UK economy of up to £9.3 billion pa.

Our present policy on cannabis is irrational, irresponsible and dangerous. Surely, this inevitable and long overdue reform will now begin to roll out across the world?

Fortunately, you're in a minority with your misguided beliefs, which means, hopefully, these drugs will never be legalised.
What should be done however, is to take a much, much tougher line with drug dealers and users. Full life imprisonment should be imposed on each and every drug dealer caught as a good starting point.

Always Grumpy wrote:

Babs Stanley wrote:
On 6th November 2012 Colorado and Washington state legalised cannabis for adults!

Are we so stupid in Britain that we cannot learn the lessons of history? If we prohibit something for which there is huge demand then the price rises and violent criminals become involved.

If we introduced a legally regulated system we would solve nearly all the problems around cannabis. Science proves how much safer it is than tobacco, alcohol, prescription medicines and all other recreational drugs. The evidence is that where legal regulation is introduced, consumption by children and all health and social harms are reduced.

Doctors would be able to prescribe one of the most effective medicines that has no serious side effects at all. At the moment the government has given GW Pharmaceuticals an illegal monopoly on cannabis so they make millions out of a medicine that you can grow in your greenhouse for virtually nothing.

Independent, expert research also indicates that a tax and regulate policy on cannabis would produce a net gain to the UK economy of up to £9.3 billion pa.

Our present policy on cannabis is irrational, irresponsible and dangerous. Surely, this inevitable and long overdue reform will now begin to roll out across the world?

Fortunately, you're in a minority with your misguided beliefs, which means, hopefully, these drugs will never be legalised.
What should be done however, is to take a much, much tougher line with drug dealers and users. Full life imprisonment should be imposed on each and every drug dealer caught as a good starting point.

You are incorrect. In polls it is now clear that more than 70% of the British public support legal regulation of cannabis.

Crepe and a waffle?

Babs Stanley wrote:

Always Grumpy wrote:

Babs Stanley wrote:
On 6th November 2012 Colorado and Washington state legalised cannabis for adults!

Are we so stupid in Britain that we cannot learn the lessons of history? If we prohibit something for which there is huge demand then the price rises and violent criminals become involved.

If we introduced a legally regulated system we would solve nearly all the problems around cannabis. Science proves how much safer it is than tobacco, alcohol, prescription medicines and all other recreational drugs. The evidence is that where legal regulation is introduced, consumption by children and all health and social harms are reduced.

Doctors would be able to prescribe one of the most effective medicines that has no serious side effects at all. At the moment the government has given GW Pharmaceuticals an illegal monopoly on cannabis so they make millions out of a medicine that you can grow in your greenhouse for virtually nothing.

Independent, expert research also indicates that a tax and regulate policy on cannabis would produce a net gain to the UK economy of up to £9.3 billion pa.

Our present policy on cannabis is irrational, irresponsible and dangerous. Surely, this inevitable and long overdue reform will now begin to roll out across the world?

Fortunately, you're in a minority with your misguided beliefs, which means, hopefully, these drugs will never be legalised.
What should be done however, is to take a much, much tougher line with drug dealers and users. Full life imprisonment should be imposed on each and every drug dealer caught as a good starting point.

You are incorrect. In polls it is now clear that more than 70% of the British public support legal regulation of cannabis.

I do not believe you. Perhaps 70% of cannabis users support it but not 70% of the entire population of this country.
Show me the evidence to support your claim?

Always Grumpy wrote:

Babs Stanley wrote:

Always Grumpy wrote:

Babs Stanley wrote:
On 6th November 2012 Colorado and Washington state legalised cannabis for adults!

Are we so stupid in Britain that we cannot learn the lessons of history? If we prohibit something for which there is huge demand then the price rises and violent criminals become involved.

If we introduced a legally regulated system we would solve nearly all the problems around cannabis. Science proves how much safer it is than tobacco, alcohol, prescription medicines and all other recreational drugs. The evidence is that where legal regulation is introduced, consumption by children and all health and social harms are reduced.

Doctors would be able to prescribe one of the most effective medicines that has no serious side effects at all. At the moment the government has given GW Pharmaceuticals an illegal monopoly on cannabis so they make millions out of a medicine that you can grow in your greenhouse for virtually nothing.

Independent, expert research also indicates that a tax and regulate policy on cannabis would produce a net gain to the UK economy of up to £9.3 billion pa.

Our present policy on cannabis is irrational, irresponsible and dangerous. Surely, this inevitable and long overdue reform will now begin to roll out across the world?

Fortunately, you're in a minority with your misguided beliefs, which means, hopefully, these drugs will never be legalised.
What should be done however, is to take a much, much tougher line with drug dealers and users. Full life imprisonment should be imposed on each and every drug dealer caught as a good starting point.

You are incorrect. In polls it is now clear that more than 70% of the British public support legal regulation of cannabis.

I do not believe you. Perhaps 70% of cannabis users support it but not 70% of the entire population of this country.
Show me the evidence to support your claim?

One of many polls showing that the public actively support legal regulation of cannabis and reform of our irrational, unscientific drugs policy:

http://transform-dru
gs.blogspot.co.uk/20
10/07/new-poll-shows
-70-support-for-lega
l.html

And another from YouGov:

http://www.thesun.co
.uk/sol/homepage/new
s/politics/4416608/.
html

good piece of police work eh

Tonyblairisthedevil wrote:
Schmoke and a Pancake?

"Flapjack and a cigarette?"

Babs Stanley wrote:

Always Grumpy wrote:

Babs Stanley wrote:

Always Grumpy wrote:

Babs Stanley wrote:
On 6th November 2012 Colorado and Washington state legalised cannabis for adults!

Are we so stupid in Britain that we cannot learn the lessons of history? If we prohibit something for which there is huge demand then the price rises and violent criminals become involved.

If we introduced a legally regulated system we would solve nearly all the problems around cannabis. Science proves how much safer it is than tobacco, alcohol, prescription medicines and all other recreational drugs. The evidence is that where legal regulation is introduced, consumption by children and all health and social harms are reduced.

Doctors would be able to prescribe one of the most effective medicines that has no serious side effects at all. At the moment the government has given GW Pharmaceuticals an illegal monopoly on cannabis so they make millions out of a medicine that you can grow in your greenhouse for virtually nothing.

Independent, expert research also indicates that a tax and regulate policy on cannabis would produce a net gain to the UK economy of up to £9.3 billion pa.

Our present policy on cannabis is irrational, irresponsible and dangerous. Surely, this inevitable and long overdue reform will now begin to roll out across the world?

Fortunately, you're in a minority with your misguided beliefs, which means, hopefully, these drugs will never be legalised.
What should be done however, is to take a much, much tougher line with drug dealers and users. Full life imprisonment should be imposed on each and every drug dealer caught as a good starting point.

You are incorrect. In polls it is now clear that more than 70% of the British public support legal regulation of cannabis.

I do not believe you. Perhaps 70% of cannabis users support it but not 70% of the entire population of this country.
Show me the evidence to support your claim?

One of many polls showing that the public actively support legal regulation of cannabis and reform of our irrational, unscientific drugs policy:

http://transform-dru

gs.blogspot.co.uk/20

10/07/new-poll-shows

-70-support-for-lega

l.html

A survey from a pro drugs group - I hardly think that represents 60+ miliion UK residents.

Tonyblairisthedevil wrote:
Crepe and a waffle?

Come on get it right!

"Cigar and a waffle?" or
"Pipe and a Crepe?"

You can't have both!!

Babs Stanley wrote:
And another from YouGov:

http://www.thesun.co

.uk/sol/homepage/new

s/politics/4416608/.

html

A Sun survey - that's a laugh. I would think you would need to be on drugs to read the Sun - that's if Sun readers can actually read the people. They probably just look at the pictures and the men especially go straight to page 3 and then move on to the back page to look at the sports photographs.

@Always Grumpy

Also always stupid. Both the LDDPR and the Sun survey were carried out by reputable independent polling organisations.

Your attempted dismissal of this important evidence is transparent. Face it, you're wrong - and you're also poorly informed and out of touch.

Babs Stanley wrote:
@Always Grumpy

Also always stupid. Both the LDDPR and the Sun survey were carried out by reputable independent polling organisations.

Your attempted dismissal of this important evidence is transparent. Face it, you're wrong - and you're also poorly informed and out of touch.

Polls can say whatever the people paying for it want it to say.
Anyone with any intelligence knows that - not you obviously, with a brain addled by drugs.
I'll just let you wallow in your drug induced ignorance.

Always Grumpy wrote:

Babs Stanley wrote:
@Always Grumpy

Also always stupid. Both the LDDPR and the Sun survey were carried out by reputable independent polling organisations.

Your attempted dismissal of this important evidence is transparent. Face it, you're wrong - and you're also poorly informed and out of touch.

Polls can say whatever the people paying for it want it to say.
Anyone with any intelligence knows that - not you obviously, with a brain addled by drugs.
I'll just let you wallow in your drug induced ignorance.

QED

Babs Stanley wrote:
@Always Grumpy

Also always stupid. Both the LDDPR and the Sun survey were carried out by reputable independent polling organisations.

Your attempted dismissal of this important evidence is transparent. Face it, you're wrong - and you're also poorly informed and out of touch.

Polls are inherently biased and can be worse than useless, unless you are scientifically trained and understand the methodologies behind them.

Newspapers invariably have arts educated graduates presenting statistics in a sensationalist way (that's what they are paid for) without any scientific understanding.

I would suggest reading the book "Bad Science" to understand how the public are mislead by the ignorance of newspaper reporters: http://www.badscienc
e.net/

Interesting video here:

http://www.ted.com/t
alks/ben_goldacre_ba
ttling_bad_science.h
tml

@Babs Stanley: while I think your argument is largely sound, one aspect that always intrigues me is that, on the one hand, you correctly state that legalisation of cannabis would mean that anyone who wanted to could very easily grown their own... but yet you then go on to state that the government could make c.£10billion by taxing the sale of it.

Surely, if people can grow their own for next to nothing, why would they pay for the goods, which would have to include a profit margin, transport costs and, of course, tax (which would be a minimum of 20% VAT plus duty - which could well add a further 50%, or more, as they do with alcohol and tobacco).

BTW, if you look at one of the lead stories on this website today, you'll note that Swindon's courts essentially believe cannabis and dealing drugs is legal.

A chap gets caught smoking dope in public with others and then admits to being a fairly big time dealer - with over £1500 of the stuff nicely prepped to sell - and strolls free from court. Total waste of police time and our money and the judge has sent the message that possession and dealing of cannabis is perfectly acceptable in Swindon.

I 2 Could B wrote:
@Babs Stanley: while I think your argument is largely sound, one aspect that always intrigues me is that, on the one hand, you correctly state that legalisation of cannabis would mean that anyone who wanted to could very easily grown their own... but yet you then go on to state that the government could make c.£10billion by taxing the sale of it.

Surely, if people can grow their own for next to nothing, why would they pay for the goods, which would have to include a profit margin, transport costs and, of course, tax (which would be a minimum of 20% VAT plus duty - which could well add a further 50%, or more, as they do with alcohol and tobacco).

I suggest you look at the excellent study "Taxing the UK Cannabis Market, Atha et al 2011".

This paints a very clear picture of a regulated cannabis market based on good solid evidence. I think it is clear that in such a market growing your own would become an esoteric pursuit just as home brewing or winemaking is Once a choice of consistent, quality products is available most people would choose this form of supply.

http://www.clear-uk.
org/wp-content/uploa
ds/2011/09/TaxUKCan.
pdf

Babs Stanley wrote:

I 2 Could B wrote:
@Babs Stanley: while I think your argument is largely sound, one aspect that always intrigues me is that, on the one hand, you correctly state that legalisation of cannabis would mean that anyone who wanted to could very easily grown their own... but yet you then go on to state that the government could make c.£10billion by taxing the sale of it.

Surely, if people can grow their own for next to nothing, why would they pay for the goods, which would have to include a profit margin, transport costs and, of course, tax (which would be a minimum of 20% VAT plus duty - which could well add a further 50%, or more, as they do with alcohol and tobacco).

I suggest you look at the excellent study "Taxing the UK Cannabis Market, Atha et al 2011".

This paints a very clear picture of a regulated cannabis market based on good solid evidence. I think it is clear that in such a market growing your own would become an esoteric pursuit just as home brewing or winemaking is Once a choice of consistent, quality products is available most people would choose this form of supply.

http://www.clear-uk.

org/wp-content/uploa

ds/2011/09/TaxUKCan.

pdf

I suggest you read some NHS reports on the dangers of cannabis use....
http://www.nhs.uk/Li
vewell/drugs/Pages/C
annabisdangers.aspx

Yet another Govt plan to increase tax from the sale of somethnig not realising it will cost more to the taxpayer in other ways, increased NHS costs, anti social behaviour etc. Personally I dont know of anyone who thinks it should be legalised and the muppets who seem to need a mind altering drug instead of using their brains to find real ways of enjoying themsleves should be treated as law breakers and dealt with accordingly.