More than 110 people a day admitted to hospital in Plymouth because of alcohol

“@trudie2010 - So you admit then that you do in fact use drugs yourself... Not very often, but you do consume alcohol. Alcohol is a million times worse for your body, your community, your health services etc... when compared to Cannabis.

In my experience, people are very quick to get up on their high horse about Cannabis, while actually consuming other drugs themselves.

I have another question for you then... Posed in the manner of a short story-

Cannabis, can be consumed 100% naturally. I'm aware of the additives in the stronger strains that are enhanced chemically, but it is a plant that grows in the eart and you can use it 'as is'. Lets compare it, for example to a mint bush. Now, if I pick a part of a mint bush and think 'lets stick it in a cigarette and see how it tastes', I feel very mellow, relaxed and giggly.

I tell all my friends about it who then start growing their own mint. They also realise that beside smoking it for relaxation purposes, that the leaves and stems are the best thing they've ever seen for making rope, cloth, textiles etc. And that it makes a delicious flavour for lots of edible things.

Now someone comes along and suddenly says "MINT IS NOW ILLEGAL"...? Anyone caught growing, smoking or even having mint on you will be thrown in jail.... Why?

Why has this happened? Who is it that decided that one day, a plant that grows on our planet completely naturally would suddenly be illegal. It's utterly ridiculous. And it's not so much a pro drugs argument, it an anti-facist government argument trying to dictate every little thing in our lives. I have the right do whatever the hell I want to my body, as long as I don't harm another person on this planet.”

“I'm not fussy if people die from drugs, drink or fags, and, no I hardly ever drink as it happens, the fact remains that drugs are illegal, drink and fags are not yet illegal. I would rather they made the latter two illegal, than legalise drugs. There will always be someone whose life is so shallow that they will need to take something to enjoy themselves, but good friends should be enough to have a good time.”

“@trudie2010... Still waiting on some evidence that definitivley links Cannabis to psychosis???

My point is that if you are against drugs you need to start your argument in the right place. The right place to start a 'WAR ON DRUGS' is alcohol and tobacco, then your illegal heroin, crack, cocaine etc. Cannabis is consistently demonised in the media, people lap it up and join the anti-weed bandwagon... All the while LEGAL drugs destroy millions of lives worldwide everyday.

But that's OK I guess because the government line their pockets off the tax profits from these legal drugs? You're OK with that are you?”

“Off to the pub shortly for my weekly binge.”

“@trudie2010 - Do you have any evidence to back that up? I've read the if you regularly use cannabis you are twice as likely to have some sort of psychological problem, but only if you are the kind of person likely to have some sort of episode anyway. And this is pretty much the only negative side effect of cannabis. Other side effects depend on the way you consume it.

Now, to keep this a balanced argument lets look at the top health risks associated with alcohol shall we? (There are MANY, but we'll just look at the most common - Info from NHS)

Liver problems
Reduced fertility
High blood pressure
Increased risk of Cancers
Increased risk of Heart Attack

People who drink frequently, or binge drink;

Are 1.8 to 2.5 times as likely to get cancer of the mouth, neck and throat.
Women are 1.2 times as likely to get breast cancer.
Men are twice as likely to develop liver cirrhosis.

So, lets be real here... Pass me the spli*** any day! I would rather have a small, a SMALL risk of a psychological problem than the damn near guaranteed problems that drinking gives you.

Want to take it a step further maybe? How about those god awful chemical ridden energy drinks?

Recent research in Australia has highlighted the risks with consumption of energy drinks. This data was gathered from 7 years of calls to the Australian Poisons Center regarding energy drinks.

Palpitations / Tachycardia
Dizziness/ Jitters
Tremors / Shaking
Agitation / Restlessness
Gastrointestinal upset
Chest pain / ischaemia
Allergic reactions can include; rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the (mouth, face, lips, or tongue), diarrhea
Dizziness / Syncope
Paraesthesia (tingling or numbing of the skin)
Insomnia
Respiratory distress
Headachea/Migraines
Breast shrinkage in females

Still think that Cannabis is so bad...?

What about tobacco? (Info from NHS)

100,000 people die each year due to smoking.

It also causes;

•coronary heart disease
•heart attack
•stroke
•peripheral vascular disease (damaged blood vessels)
•cerebrovascular disease (damaged arteries that supply blood to your brain)
•chronic bronchitis (infection of the main airways in the lungs)
•emphysema (damage to the small airways in the lungs)
•pneumonia (inflammation in the lungs)

Still think that Cannabis is so bad...?

Maybe you should do some research into the medicinal benefits of Cannabis. Various science and medical foundations are pouring millions into the research of THC, Cannabinols and Cannabinoids in order to identify the various health benefits they provide.

What about the physical or practical use of the plants? Hemp, for example, can be used to make rope, paper, textiles, clothes and much more. It takes up much less space than trees, and you can grow multiple crops a year. Plus you don't need to use harsh bleaches and chemicals in the process of turning hemp into one of the above things. Its much quicker, easier, cleaner, cheaper and greener to use hemp instead of trees. Hundreds of years ago, especially in America, everyone had hemp plantations and used the plants in various ways... even for its medicinal and relaxing properties.... Even the founding fathers of the United States!

Most people are far too quick to draw a conclusion on Cannabis, because it's been demonised for so long. These are probably the same kind of people who were commenting on the article about the lad who died due to legal highs saying ONE DEATH IS TOO MUCH, and there MUST BE BETTER LAWS etcetc. All the while, these people sip their wines and smoke their cigarettes or whatever and they'll shout at their TV sets about Cannabis and then sit through a Budweiser advert thinking its all OK...”

“It's an accepted fact that if alcohol didn't exist and was to come out now, it would be banned and put on the class A drug list with heroin and cocaine because it so dangerous. Funny old world where a Class A killer drug is promoted in high street shops and pubs and less harmful recreational drugs are banned. Beggars belief how stupid the human race is sometimes.”

“""Well over 50 per cent of the violence on Friday and Saturday nights is alcohol related, but we are putting things in place to tackle this."

Seems everything is in place except a cage for those who can't get past a Saturday night without beating someone's brains out. Cage fighting is a popular sport, by the seem of it, and could distract a fair few while watching it. Just a police dog or two to keep order in the queue waiting for their turns in the cage. How about late night bookies being allowed in on it and put it near the hot-dog and coffee stalls.”

“Devonportboy, josdave didn't say cannabis was entirely safe and he did not put forward any arguments. I don't know exactly what he was intending although to me it seems that he was simply pointing out how hypocritical people and the law can be when it comes to this issue.

Trudie2010 condescendingly referring to people who believe that in a democratic and supposedly free society an adult should have the right to choose to consume what is, whether you like it or not, a relatively harmless drug when compared to other drugs that are freely available as the 'legalise cannabis brigade' just demonstrates an ignorance of the subject.

Have you never heard of alcohol induced psychosis or do you just refuse to acknowledge it because you like to drink alcohol and it's inconvenient to your argument?

What would your attitude be if this article was titled 'More than 110 people a day admitted to hospital in Plymouth because of a new legal high'? Would you be crying out for the legal high to be banned?

More and more people are having the courage to speak up about the fact that our drug laws are, as josdave put it, a farce and changes are needed. Those who have spoken out include judges, members of the police force, doctors, scientists and politicians among others.

A report has now been published by the UK Drug Policy Commission after a 6 year study which recommending decriminalisation of some drugs in at least some form. However, I doubt any changes will be made given that our government's usual approach to this issue is to ignore the advice of experts, bury their heads in the sand and blindly carry on with the same approach that has failed so miserably to date.”

“Why don't the NHS introduce a standard 'fine' for anyone admitted with alcohol related conditions?
If you can be fined/arrested for being drunk and disorderly, why not set a standard 'fine' which the alcohol-related patient has to pay to the NHS for receiving the treatment?

The money this could potentially generate can then be put back into the NHS for good use. Never been in that state thankfully, but I know how bad I would feel if I ended up in hospital for being a boozer and then being told I have to pay a standard charge to the NHS for being treated.
Would certainly make me think twice about drinking so much!!”

“It doesn't help when Tescos etc put the Cider at the end of kids cereal or biscuit isle.”