Yeah. Unless something’s legal what’s in it isn’t controlled, is it, as George says, it’s often what something is cut with that kills a person. Here’s your cannabis sir, cut with a tasty side-order of rat poison, enjoy!
Though having said that, it tends to be younger recreational drug users who take the biggest risks, doesn’t it. It tends to need one of their friends to die/nearly die before they wise up.
I guess the problem with cannabis is it impairs people’s reaction times, yeah, is that what it does? If people are going to use it they need to do so in a safe environment so they don’t do something like fall out of a window, or under a bus, or drive into a wall…
Because I’d like to continue to work, I couldn’t take the real deal - Sativex seemed like a good option for me but I can’t get it.
However, I am prescribed Nabilone, a man-made cannabanoid that’s quite normal for MS in Scotland from what I understand. I can take more but I only have one tablet a day as it does make me a bit scatty, so I’d still prefer to try Sativex! I agree with your sentiment but I couldn’t function fully on cannabis so Sativex makes so much sense.
l have just been reading a email from Multiple Sclerosis News To-day - and l see that a Community Care Centre New York is going to set up a palliative care system using licenced Marijuana. They hope to provide their own medical grade cannabis for use on people with MS/Cancer/HIV - and other neurological diseases. Because - current meds are not effective and also the side-effects are so often worse then the symptoms treated.
Apparently, lreland are also hopeful in getting the laws relaxed so that they can also treat the same conditions with medicinal grade cannabis.
ln the meantime - l shall still be taking my Sativex. And if the Biotin continues to make improvements to my health - l might not even need the Sativex.
i am sorry but i am gonna pounce on this like a fat kid on a smartie… you know people who have lost loved ones directly due to cannabis?
just not possible. NOT POSSIBLE.
Fact is, to reach lethal toxicity, THC and cannabinoids need to be of a concentration in the blood, ten of thousands of times more than that, which would cause the person to be stoned unconscious.
the only time cannabis has been a killer, is when farmers plant it among crops to attract pests away from their principle cash crop (which might tempt you down the path of claiming some sort of addictive property; which might be true for bugs, but again is completely IMPOSSIBLE for humanoids).
I do know someone that has lost a loved one to cannabis, not in the literal sense but certainly to all intent and purpose, through psychosis caused by cannabis.
"… i am sorry but i am gonna pounce on this like a fat kid on a smartie… you know people who have lost loved ones directly due to cannabis?
just not possible. NOT POSSIBLE. …"
WRONG, TOTALLY WRONG!
Some 20-year old has a few pints too many, goes to drive home with a fat happy grin on his face, swerves, loses control, wraps his car round a tree and gets crushed. Was it the tree that killed him? No, it was the alcohol.
Some 20-year old has a spliff too many, goes to drive home with a fat happy grin on his face, swerves, loses control, wraps his car round a tree and gets crushed. Was it the tree that killed him? No, it was the cannabis.
Cause and effect does not take intermediate steps into account. You might as well blame the cat that led to the driver swerving, and demand that all cats should be made illegal.
Cannabis is illegal in the UK - even, please note in its vegetable form. Whether it should be is a matter for debate. BUT, it is still illegal in the uk.
"I have real concerns about the dangers of drugs, both legal and illegal. But I think that it’s much better to take a rational, education-based approach rather than the approach that we take at the moment.”
Seems unorthodox to not indulge the irrational and uneducated approach, when determining the limitations placed on people’s lives…
…it’s relatively easy to find a website that will support any argument.
This is obviously a contentious issue and we’ll probably never agree. However I’ve been around long enough to see the effects cannabis can have on individuals and their families.
Before you make any assumptions about my life or experiences. I was a student in the early 70s, a time when drug taking was part of daily life. Although many people on this site won’t have been born then.
I have no doubt that cannabis is a potentially useful drug for many medical conditions. However taking it under medical supervision is a far cry from legalising it’s indiscriminate use.
With respect, my link was to a list of historically recorded events regarding the current illegality of a ‘harmless herb’.
Meanwhile your link was to an opinion-editorial piece, which in itself offered no basis of evidence for the statements opined, nor was even factually precise or comprehensive (eg. the only way of using cannabis was through smoking and it thus brought respiratory and cancerous problems).
In any event, i make no assumption on a person’s life nor their experiences. I take comments for what they are and sadly, inaccurate assertions made with regard to cannabis are a ‘hot button topic’ for me.
I mean no offence and apologies if any has been taken. I am happy at least, that this topic is being debated, even if only in here.
incidentally, daily drug taking continued after the 1970s
I am incorrect in the above; all cannabis plants, even those with no psychoactive properties (aka industrial hemp) is ‘illegal’ and can only be grown by those with governmentally issued permits.
Apologies and thanks to Doctor Geoff for provoking me into checking myself!
Incidentally, fyi, daily drug taking has gone on for many centuries.
As I’ve said we are never going to agree on this.
However I do feel that your statements need to be challenged as, although they are said authoritatively, they are your opinion which not everyone would agree with.
I have read many views on this thread and they are as interesting as they are diverse. I believe people suffering with any similar condition that has such adverse affects of pain on quality of life etc. should be allowed access to ANY medication for their sole purpose to be allowed without question. Control of this access should be monitored as prescription medications are. Emotive and subjective arguments or examples have little place in mature and rational discussion.
Unfortunately there will always be idiots and/or selfish b@$t@rd$ who are mercifully the exception rather than the rule.
I wonder if I’m going to be able to get my thoughts out here, here goes…
Is all the fuss about cannabis as medicinal relief solely BECAUSE it’s cannabis? Something that, in the forefront of most people’s minds, is a recreational drug, and recreational drug = bad. Also, because of the people who claim they’re using it for medical reasons, whilst sat there stoned out of their gourd calling people man and telling them to chill, etc.
So a headless chicken kneejerk reaction is what tends to happen if the prospect of it being used for genuine medical reasons is raised, because of the associations that go with it.
I’m just thinking about things like oxycodone, a prescribed painkiller in the US, which is also called hillbilly heroin if I’m not mistaken…medication that can give a high if abused is going to be abused no matter what, isn’t it.
But cannabis used for medical reasons isn’t smoked. And aren’t you guys saying doesn’t give highs, right?
What I’m trying to get out here is, it’s no different to any other medicine, is it. It can and will be abused by some, because that’s what humans do. But if it can be produced in a controlled manner by a proper pharmaceutical company, in a form that doesn’t impair abilities or create addiction, then what’s the issue here? Other than that headless chicken kneejerk reaction…
Everyone is entitled to an opinion - and l can see right and wrong in all of them. Poll 's fears about cannabis ‘misuse’ are grounded. Just as Paolo’s opinion supports the legalising of cannabis for medicinal use. And you are both right.
Some idiots will always go too far - and take risks. Whether it be cannabis - other hard drugs or hard liquor. Personally, l have only known of alcohol abuse - seen a lot of that in my time. Seen heroin and cocaine addicts on the tele - but not personally.
For cancer patients and HIV sufferers as well as MS - more and more it is proven that cannabis helps with pain and symptoms - without leaving the patient being ‘out of it’ - like morphine does. Morphine and Oromorph is used all the time in hospitals - and its effects can leave the person completely comotose and unable to function. Not an ideal way for people who are suffering so much - but want to enjoy what life they have left. Not sleep it away. All very sad l know - but this is when medicinal cannabis comes into its own. Provides enough pain relief to get them through the worst.
l think we shall have to agree not to agree - there is right and wrong on both sides of the argument. l am lucky to be able to get Sativex on prescription - as l could not bear all the side-effects of previous meds offered. They would have turned me into a cabbage in no time. l have no problems with Sativex - have never experienced any ‘high’ moments at all. At night it helps me with pain and spasticity in my legs - gives me peace.
I’m sorry Boudica, i am not having a go at you. This is not a personal back and forth.
You stated that you knew someone who died from cannabis use. I merely found this highly unlikely and wrote as much.
In a perfect world, all i would want is for the stigma of cannabis to be removed so that anyone who feels they might benefit from it, could ‘suck it and see’. I thought your post would undermine this ‘libertarian ideal’.
Considering that my efforts in these forums are to lend some reassurance or perhaps even enlightenment in some slight way, (with the last thing wanted being to antagonise or exhaust), i shall leave it as is.
I just feel that those with MS should feel free, absolutely free, to try anything and everything that might help alleviate their burden.
All the very best and my unreserved apologies for any overheating.
