Frank Hovis Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 The legislation needs to be seriously overhauled; new ones are being popped out every few months and the legislation takes years to come in. Mcat for example is a now a huge llegal drug and gained its popularity in the legal years. Taking one local paper with another story of a death, here are the related stories: Related content Terrible 'legal high' Spice is fuelling violence, Plymouth court told Police officers rescue man who had taken 'legal high' from second floor window Boy, 18, has heart attack after taking legal high in Plymouth Deal sees legal highs permanently taken off sale in Plymouth shop Fresh court bid to close down Plymouth legal highs shop Hero teen from Plymouth hauls friend to safety in legal highs car park jump drama The government needs to recognise that heroin and coke are so last century when it comes to killing people. http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Student-dead-Plymouth-halls-residence-taking/story-27992604-detail/story.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
long time lurking Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Stick to the illegal stuff should be the message the risks are well known Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StainlessSteelCat Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Having lost a couple of friends to drugs (skunk in one case) it's hard to know what to suggest. You think it's bad now but wait until home chemists are able to genetically engineer drugs tailored to individuals with specific effects. The law will have zero chance of keeping up. Humans like to get off their heads/alter their mental states with substances - be it illegal drugs or legal ones like tobacco or alcohol. Perhaps we need to accept that we will lose some people, legalise the lot and tax them according to risk/cost to NHS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fully Detached Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Having lost a couple of friends to drugs (skunk in one case) it's hard to know what to suggest. You think it's bad now but wait until home chemists are able to genetically engineer drugs tailored to individuals with specific effects. The law will have zero chance of keeping up. Humans like to get off their heads/alter their mental states with substances - be it illegal drugs or legal ones like tobacco or alcohol. Perhaps we need to accept that we will lose some people, legalise the lot and tax them according to risk/cost to NHS. That's my preferred option, although I appreciate there would be unforeseen consequences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
long time lurking Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Having lost a couple of friends to drugs (skunk in one case) it's hard to know what to suggest. You think it's bad now but wait until home chemists are able to genetically engineer drugs tailored to individuals with specific effects. The law will have zero chance of keeping up. Humans like to get off their heads/alter their mental states with substances - be it illegal drugs or legal ones like tobacco or alcohol. Perhaps we need to accept that we will lose some people, legalise the lot and tax them according to risk/cost to NHS. Was that directly or indirectly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StainlessSteelCat Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Was that directly or indirectly Indirectly. Heavy user for a couple of years. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Eventually took his own life because he could tell he was getting worse again, and didn't want to cause hassle for others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fully Detached Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Indirectly. Heavy user for a couple of years. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Eventually took his own life because he could tell he was getting worse again, and didn't want to cause hassle for others. That's very sad. I personally see the prevalence of skunk as a fairly direct result of prohibition of the weaker stuff, purely on the basis that it's much more practical from a growing, logistical, and "customer feedback" point of view. I liken it to walking into Tesco and only being able to buy 50% vodka or aftershave, and the likely effects that would have on the proportion of the population whop were predisposed to enjoy a drink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Hovis Posted October 16, 2015 Author Share Posted October 16, 2015 That's very sad. I personally see the prevalence of skunk as a fairly direct result of prohibition of the weaker stuff, purely on the basis that it's much more practical from a growing, logistical, and "customer feedback" point of view. I liken it to walking into Tesco and only being able to buy 50% vodka or aftershave, and the likely effects that would have on the proportion of the population whop were predisposed to enjoy a drink. Yes, not a user myself but I have frequently read that the older users who bought in the 60s, 70s & 80s and who now grow their own see it (perhaps correctly) as relatively harmless but they don't appreciate that it has changed. Legalisation of cannabis came up on one of the local radio phone-ins this week and the views of both sides are so intrenched whilst simulataneously being ill-informed that I don't see an honest debate happening any time soon. I can't stand the stuff and avoid frequent users like the plague (the most boring people under the sun) but would on balance: legalise, control and tax it. Though saying that on local radio would have had people attacking me as a drug fiend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest eight Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Having lost a couple of friends to drugs (skunk in one case) it's hard to know what to suggest. You think it's bad now but wait until home chemists are able to genetically engineer drugs tailored to individuals with specific effects. The law will have zero chance of keeping up. Humans like to get off their heads/alter their mental states with substances - be it illegal drugs or legal ones like tobacco or alcohol. Perhaps we need to accept that we will lose some people, legalise the lot and tax them according to risk/cost to NHS. Or to quote Mike Skinner :- One day they're gonna make electrical implants for the brainThat simulate raving sensations, Wayne Imagine the dilemma, for the man and his penance If he could get ****ed without hanging his health up Would this be illegal? Would the Daily Mail rail on it? Is this evil to need to escape these capers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fully Detached Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Yes, not a user myself but I have frequently read that the older users who bought in the 60s, 70s & 80s and who now grow their own see it (perhaps correctly) as relatively harmless but they don't appreciate that it has changed. Legalisation of cannabis came up on one of the local radio phone-ins this week and the views of both sides are so intrenched whilst simulataneously being ill-informed that I don't see an honest debate happening any time soon. I can't stand the stuff and avoid frequent users like the plague (the most boring people under the sun) but would on balance: legalise, control and tax it. Though saying that on local radio would have had people attacking me as a drug fiend. Yep, I remember reading that 24% (and perhaps even higher) THC content is not uncommon now, whereas Jimi Hendrix and his mates would have kicked back and smoked something roughly 1/3 of that strength. A quick look at Jimi's taste in clothes tells me that 8% is more than enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hail the Tripod Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Surely now cannabis is decriminalised across so much of America it won't be long till legalisation in the UK. Then who is going to buy street mcat etc.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest eight Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Surely now cannabis is decriminalised across so much of America it won't be long till legalisation in the UK. Then who is going to buy street mcat etc.? Oh no! I have seen the word Marlboro written down out loud, and consequently now smoke 60 a day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mspL4 Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 People should learn from history that banning a substance doesn't stop people from wanting to try it or take it, all it does is push it underground and removes the Quality Control aspect whilst making a few criminals very rich. The Volstead Act demonstrated this perfectly. People are entitled to put whatever they want in their bodies as long as it's not to the detriment of anybody else. People will always die from taking substances whether they be legal or not, some people are irresponsible with their intake and abuse things rather than use them for the purposes of which they are intended, some are tragic accidents, some are through stupidity and not respecting the substance they are choosing to abuse, either way you could combine all illegal drug deaths together since the dawn of time and they would pale into insignificance compared to the number of deaths caused by legal substances, such as Alcohol and Tobacco. I mean, where do you stop? Someone dies from drinking bleach so should it be banned? If you're going to ban something, ban them all otherwise permit them all, it's the hypocrisy which makes the least sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
long time lurking Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Yep, I remember reading that 24% (and perhaps even higher) THC content is not uncommon now, whereas Jimi Hendrix and his mates would have kicked back and smoked something roughly 1/3 of that strength. A quick look at Jimi's taste in clothes tells me that 8% is more than enough It can be significantly higher than that but i don't see strength as being a problem ,(i smoked regularly up until about eight years ago) as most treat weed the same as most drinkers treat alcohol these days ,the average drinker don't drink spirits by the pint It`s not a drug that is totally safe especially concerning people with underlying mental health problems i have seen this with a friend`s sister,although alcohol had an even worse affect on her I see the so called legal highs as far more of a danger/health risk than the illegal ones Mephedrone has become a major problem in this country now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 It can be significantly higher than that but i don't see strength as being a problem ,(i smoked regularly up until about eight years ago) as most treat weed the same as most drinkers treat alcohol these days ,the average drinker don't drink spirits by the pint As I understand it there are 2 main active compounds in the drug, THC and CBD, and the latter is thought to moderate the adverse effects of the former in normal strenght varieties.. The problem with skunk is that the THC/CBD ratio is changed so that the CBD no longer effectively moderates the THC, so the potential for adverse effects is far greater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mspL4 Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Been smoking for 23 years and counting except for when I go on holiday. I cut the tobacco out a couple of months ago because of the tax you pay on them rather than for any health reasons, the Government take enough of my money without me voluntarily contributing to them as well (was only really doing about 2-3 cigarettes a night with the other) so no withdrawals to report. I just do a couple of pipes a night now, tobacco-free. Haven't drank for nearly a decade and it was probably one of the best decisions I ever made, saved a load of money and feel a million times better as a result. I also take legal highs as I like taking drugs. I do my research and respect the substances I choose to put in my body, I know that this isn't foolproof and as mentioned above, tragedies can happen but I just try to minimise the likelihood of it occurring by being as careful and respectful as possible. I'm also a productive member of society. If you come into work on Monday morning and tell everybody how off your face you were on alcohol at the weekend you're celebrated like a Superstar, go into work reporting how off your face you were on a Legal High or Weed and you're looked at with serious disdain and disgust. Doesn't seem right to me somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitevanman Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Surely now cannabis is decriminalised across so much of America it won't be long till legalisation in the UK. Then who is going to buy street mcat etc.? Government warning: May cause users to eat a whole packet of biscuits and fall asleep under the kitchen table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccc Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Been smoking for 23 years and counting except for when I go on holiday. I cut the tobacco out a couple of months ago because of the tax you pay on them rather than for any health reasons, the Government take enough of my money without me voluntarily contributing to them as well (was only really doing about 2-3 cigarettes a night with the other) so no withdrawals to report. I just do a couple of pipes a night now, tobacco-free. Haven't drank for nearly a decade and it was probably one of the best decisions I ever made, saved a load of money and feel a million times better as a result. I also take legal highs as I like taking drugs. I do my research and respect the substances I choose to put in my body, I know that this isn't foolproof and as mentioned above, tragedies can happen but I just try to minimise the likelihood of it occurring by being as careful and respectful as possible. I'm also a productive member of society. If you come into work on Monday morning and tell everybody how off your face you were on alcohol at the weekend you're celebrated like a Superstar, go into work reporting how off your face you were on a Legal High or Weed and you're looked at with serious disdain and disgust. Doesn't seem right to me somehow. MP ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
long time lurking Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 As I understand it there are 2 main active compounds in the drug, THC and CBD, and the latter is thought to moderate the adverse effects of the former in normal strenght varieties.. The problem with skunk is that the THC/CBD ratio is changed so that the CBD no longer effectively moderates the THC, so the potential for adverse effects is far greater. Skunk is a old strain and a single hybrid and a term that's used to categorize/pigeonhole all strains just like apples are used to describe many different strains skunk is not a high TCH low CBD strain but there are many strains that are high in thc and low in cbd but these strains are probably quite rarely found in the UK as they are not high yielding strains they are more of a coercers strain which would likely to be grown by someone for personal use rather than a cash crop that would be sold on But yes you are right about the counteractive affects of the two substances or atleast recent research suggests this and there`s research ongoing with the view of using CBD as a treatment for some mental illnesses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blobloblob Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Stick to the illegal stuff should be the message the risks are well known This is, in a nutshell, the "drug talk" I gave to my kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XYY Man Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 This is, in a nutshell, the "drug talk" I gave to my kids. And, in a nutshell, the very same "drug talk" my kids gave me...! XYY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
long time lurking Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 This is, in a nutshell, the "drug talk" I gave to my kids. Same here.... .there's something well and truly wrong when you see the best advice is do the ileal rather than the legal if their going to do anything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mspL4 Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 MP ? No I said Productive not Legitimate Criminal. I get up 5 times a week to go and do a job that I hate so that I can pay Landlord's Borrow-To-Let mortgages on houses in my street inhabited by Pram-Faces with 4 kids and waster Hubbies who still ride around on BMX's and get up when they want after spending the morning swearing at their scumbag offspring and then wonder why they have 7 and 8 years old's running around the street F'ing and Blinding. I own my house outright and never took out a mortgage, I saved like an idiot and sacrificed a lot. But I'm not bitter. Maybe that explains my recreational intake? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccc Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 No I said Productive not Legitimate Criminal. I get up 5 times a week to go and do a job that I hate so that I can pay Landlord's Borrow-To-Let mortgages on houses in my street inhabited by Pram-Faces with 4 kids and waster Hubbies who still ride around on BMX's and get up when they want after spending the morning swearing at their scumbag offspring and then wonder why they have 7 and 8 years old's running around the street F'ing and Blinding. I own my house outright and never took out a mortgage, I saved like an idiot and sacrificed a lot. But I'm not bitter. Maybe that explains my recreational intake? You need to take a chill pill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mspL4 Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 You need to take a chill pill Did that at the weekend...kicked in waaaaaaaayyyyyy too late though, should try on an empty stomach next time ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.