UK Commons Inquiry

[RESiNATE]

Just caught a report on BBC News24, that the organisation "Rethink" is calling for a Commons inquiry into the links to mental illness caused by cannabis use.

So, here's the link for your perusal...
http://www.rethink.org/news+campaigns/press_releases/cannabis-Jan-05.htm

Still, if what they say is correct, then surely we would be living in a society full of mentally deranged, schitzophrenics...

...pity they aren't as concerned about the health issues connected with cigarettes and alcohol, as they seem to be about a herb that has been used by millions of people for thousands of years, with no documented evidence that supports their claims.

Anyways, I spose the tobacco companies will be pleased with this inquiry :rolleyes:

Res...

[Syrus]

Dam them. Sadily all the people who know how to run the country are far to nice to be in politics.

[Jock Mcplop]

AAAHHHH the U.K,God bless her and all who sale on her (legally or ilegally).
From what I can gather the link with Schizophrenia hasnt yet been clinically proven (this wont stop them shouting about it however!). People who already have a high chance of suffering from Schizophrenia could find that cannabis smoking over an extended period of time can induce/enhance the Schizophrenia.
The answer seems simple enough, if you are Schizophrenic then dont smoke it, if it induces Schizophrenia then stop smoking it.
Adults making an educated choice, aaaahhh Utopia!

[F L E S H]

This is bullshit of the highest order. Like Res said, if what they say would be be true, then about half the population of Earth would be schizophrenic. I heard the other day that about 70,000,000 have tried pot in the US, and yet how many of those people are now mentally ill?

It's not just the tobacco companies that are pushing against marijuana, it's also alcohol companies and pharmaceutical companies. And god knows that the pharmaceuticals have tremendous political power, in the US they managed to make Bush pass a bill that makes psychological evaluation mandatory for children and teens, with the possibility of drug prescription.


Adults making an educated choice, aaaahhh Utopia!
That sums it up very nicely....

[RESiNATE]

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?Ind=A02
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/contrib.asp?Ind=A02

...and this, taken from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/459157.stm ...
"Tobacco money also generates a sizeable chunk of the cash that makes up the federal budget.

The US Treasury is estimated to have pocketed $118.6bn in tobacco taxes in the past 10 years.

The US government makes seven times more money from the sale of a pack of cigarettes than a cigarette maker does, R.J. Reynolds, the second biggest US tobacco company, is quick to point out."

...kinda explains why the government is reluctant to outlaw tobacco in the same ways as they would outlaw cannabis...!!!

You know, since investigating the ins-and-outs of government policies (not only on cannabis legilation, but the whole goddamn plot), and having watched "Farenheit 911" the other night, I have grow increasingly depressed at how this world is run and managed by the assholes in power.
Not just George W Bush, but Tony Blair, the EU states, and numerous other governing bodies...my question is:
If we know all these things about our governments, then why do we stand for it?
Surely, we have lost the defintion of "democracy", and have allowed ourselves to become a part of somekind of dictatorship.
We ALL said no to war in Iraq, and yet, there we are!!
We all know that the US elections, both in 2001 and the most recent one, were fixed, and yet everybody seems to be happy just to go along with things!!!

Cannabis legalisation is just one issue that winds us up - what about the countless other injustices that are exacted upon other 'pressure groups', all for the sake of lining the pockets of corrupt governments and 'regimes'?

I know that I'm in a dark place right now, and so I may see things from a slightly apathetic angle, but really, with each passing day, I become more and more dejected at the way of the world!

How long must this continue before the MAJORITY see the truth of things?

If anyone knows of a deserted island (with free transport to it), please please please, let me know where it is, 'cos my bags are packed, and to hell with the fucking assholes who seem hell-bent on global destruction and oppression - and guess what...it aint the ones who are wearing tea-towels on their heads, that will be the cause of it...

Bah@the world..FRO!!!
:mad:

Res...

[Mello.as.Hello]

Trust me.. we all have our grievances with the US.. The problem is, no matter how angry we get, most people don't do anything about it. It's really easy to be an armchair senator, but let's be serious... the people won't change the government until we all get up and do something about it.

[RESiNATE]

Yes, but it aint just the USA...it's whole damn institution - take a look at the EU; every country that has joined (unless they were in financial difficulties beforehand - hence their eagerness to join) has suffered economically...

Mr Blair, in his infinite wisdom, has decided that the UK needs to join the EU - so, my fellow Britons, kiss goodbye to any equity that you once had in your property, kiss goodbye to democratic influence upon the laws that govern our country...oh, and if you live in the South-East of the UK, then I bet you didn't know that, according to juristiction laws that come with said hand-over, your patch of land will actually be regarded as French soil (as I understand it).

Happy days...

[Mello.as.Hello]

Tony Blair is a Douche Nozzle.

[Syrus]

As far as i know (Nullific might know mroe bout this) the only research that proved brain damage/mental illness was research done by Dr Gabriel Nahas, but his research was proven to be extremly un scientific and in no way a true expirement.

i might be wrong, but thats what i know.

[duppy man]

[QUOTE=RESiNATE]Just caught a report on BBC News24, that the organisation "Rethink" is calling for a Commons inquiry into the links to mental illness caused by cannabis use.

So, here's the link for your perusal...
http://www.rethink.org/news+campaigns/press_releases/cannabis-Jan-05.htm

Still, if what they say is correct, then surely we would be living in a society full of mentally deranged, schitzophrenics...

...pity they aren't as concerned about the health issues connected with cigarettes and alcohol, as they seem to be about a herb that has been used by millions of people for thousands of years, with no documented evidence that supports their claims.

sorry bud but all my years as a mental health pro. I've never heard off anyone suffering mental health problems through tobacco...respiratory. cancer..ect....the only mental health I have seen concerning alcohol is Korsakoff's syndrome its a brain disorder that is usually associated with heavy drinking over a long period. Although it is not strictly speaking a dementia, people with the condition experience loss of short term memory.

[RESiNATE]

No, Duppy, you misunderstand me, I think lol

What I'm saying is, that tobacco is a KNOWN health risk and burden upon society, as is alcohol (binge drinking culture, societal cost, etc), and yet, because those particular industries are such a financial contributor (above and beyond tax revenue) to political coffers, that the government wouldn't dare compromise their income by legislating against it's legality.

And yet, against an overwhelming proportion of evidence and opinion to suggest otherwise, they continue to regale against cannabis.

It just seems, at the very least, slightly hypocritical of them.

:confused:

[GHoSToKeR]

I agree with you wholeheartedly, RES, but consider this.

Prohibition on alcohol has been tried, and the result was a number of organized crime cartels and syndicates, producing their own alcohol, and selling it underground. These cartels made substantial money from this - something any government would not want to happen. By prohibitioning alcohol know, they would encounter the same problems. Plus, any government that banned alcohol [I]now[I], would NOT be voted in to office by the public again. Also, the government would lose millions, even billions, of £'s made from alcohol sales and licensing. This would mean that we, the tax payer, would have to suffer all sorts of increased taxes to make up the difference.

The same is true for tobacco - there is no pheasable way the government would be able to ban the sale of tobacco. They would lose a hell of alot of money, and have to increase taxes. They would lose literaly millions of voters.

The opposite is true for Cannabis. It is now illegal, but were it to be made legal, the government would have to admit they were wrong. They would lose alot of trust from the public, and maybe not be voted in to office again. The next government that came along, wanting to win the voters back, would ban Cannabis again, and adopt a 'We told you so' attitude.

My point is this. We complain that governments are only out for themselves. This is probably true. But, think about why.

If a government that was truely out to do their best for the people came in to power, they would have to make a lot of radical changes. This would lose them the vote of many minority groups (ie, if they legalised drugs, then many older voters would be against it and them). This would likely result in them losing the next election. How can they help the country if they get outvoted? Governments HAVE to try and keep themselves in power, by keeping all the voters happy (or as many as possible), so that they can continue to help the country.

As cannabis smokers, we a minority. If the government truely want to help the country, but ALSO want to stay in power, then they have to be seen to be doing what the majority wants.

[RESiNATE]

If the government truely want to help the country, but ALSO want to stay in power, then they have to be seen to be doing what the majority wants.
What, you mean like the fox hunting bill? lol


It is now illegal, but were it to be made legal, the government would have to admit they were wrong. They would lose alot of trust from the public, and maybe not be voted in to office again.
What, you mean like the Bush administration and Blair's government? lol

I hear what you're saying, GHoST, but you know as well as I do, that public opinion can be manipulated - whereas financial support is fickle (ie, manipulative).
The problem with the cannabis legislative argument, is that other drugs seem to always be made subject to the discussion - you only had to watch that "If..." programme that was screened a few weeks ago, to see that...very little was discussed about cannabis, and therefore, the public's awareness was drawn towards harder drugs, rather than the humble herb.

[duppy man]

[QUOTE=RESiNATE]No, Duppy, you misunderstand me, I think lol

sorry man miss read your post,,, your right.. I think this is the goverments latest anti Cannabis campaign which is weird why they don't legalize and take their taxes from it.as smoking is on the decline...just a thought, all the law suits going on about passive smoking related disease,,,,,,what about continuing to supply the public with nicotine without any risk to others,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Nicotine substitutes....perfect you can allow people to self terminate without harming others ..job done