Mini wanted a debate...

I am anti drugs although I think marajuana in it's natural form ie bush has a lot of benefits you just need to be able to control how it is used - I don't think it is any worse than alcohol if not better. I prefer it when I see lads hanging round smoking weed then if they are swigging back bottles - you can guarantee they will be going to the chippy then home to 'chill' on the sofa rather than smashing the bottles and causing general havoc.

I think these 'legal highs' are worse in a way because they lull people into a false sense of security, I can imagine also that when people don't get high off them (because generally they don't work) they take more and more.

Cannabis does make you four times more likely to develop schizophrenia and other mental health issues though. I don't think it's alcohol in itself that causes aggressive behaviour. Lots of people wouldn't behave like that however much they had. Whereas I've seen/heard about weed turning usually calm, not aggressive people into raving lunatics.

I agree it can cause issues with your mental health just like alcohol can cause liver failure, cancer, diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis, depression. There is no 100% safe drug but because certain drugs are legal people think they are ok and they aren't.

What I (these days) choose for myself is very different to how I'd legislate on drugs. I am completely pro-choice on this issue.

For me, alcohol is a completely different matter as it has directly affected my life. My 'real dad' is an alcoholic and my childhood with him was hell, so I do not binge drink, much to the dismay of my friends. ?

I've smoked one spiff in my life and that's it.

Just don't feel the need or desire to do drugs, I'm not curious at all.

I've edited my post slightly as I felt my comment was a bit insensitive to PP's post.

I do drink but more because I like the taste of certain things, I can't drink a lot as it plays havoc with my tummy

I have never smoked a cigarette or weed in my life. Never taken any pills and have no desire to.

Have had a few puffs on Mr C's cigar when drunk and smoked a shisha pipe (tobacco free molasses) a few times.

I am your classic binge drinker, I will go weeks without a drink then on a night out will put away a hell of a lot of booze!!

My sisters partner smokes weed like cigarettes, he is permanently stoned. He says that he does this to calm his anger issues and he reacts badly to drink so doesn't drink much at all. I don't like that he does this around the kids, and then drives.

I am completely anti all drugs. Hate them with a passion, however I do recognise that alcohol can be very dangerous too. My mum's first husband was an alcoholic who abused her and my brother. I don't drink at all now, for a variety of reasons. I would like to be able to have just one or two but my body just can't cope with it at all anymore for some reason. Was fine when I was younger.

this is what always got me with him - he would still insist on driving!! I wouldn't dream of going anywhere near my car even after one, let alone an afternoon in the pub!! The worst time was when he had us for a day (after him and Mum had split) and he spent the afternoon drinking whilst me and my sister played (so much for spending time with your kids). Anyway he was driving us home and he got pulled over and breathalized and then arrested at the roadside. 3times over the limit. The police got another car to take us home, I was about 11 and sister 8. Mum went balistic.

I prefer it when I see lads hanging round smoking weed then if they are swigging back bottles - you can guarantee they will be going to the chippy then home to 'chill' on the sofa rather than smashing the bottles and causing general havoc.

My sisters partner smokes weed like cigarettes, he is permanently stoned. He says that he does this to calm his anger issues and he reacts badly to drink so doesn't drink much at all.

Ooooo crikey better keep quiet on my past then!!

I have number of people in my life who are either addicted to drink or drugs or both. Some have quit others haven't either because they can't or simply don't want to.

Although seeing the effects both first and second hand I still do not really know where I stand. I do not agree that drugs (of any sort) should be easily available due to the damage that they do to people, families and society. However I do also think that if you know the risks then no one really has the right to tell you not to do something. Legal highs are dangerous as they are normally relatively untested - due to the fact that they are the more common drugs altered slightly to get stay the right side of the law.

I think they should all be leaglised and regulated, like tabbaco and alcohol. If over 18's for example could go to a store and buy whatever drug they wanted I think alot of the mystism and excitiment would be eradicated and possibly the useage by younger children go down.

Personally I feel drugs should be avalible for those who want to use them in a responsible way. I have taken drugs, many of my friends still do. Im my eyes a line of coke is a "normal" thing to have on a night out. I dont take anything anymore and it probably wouldnt interest me if offered but then I dont go out anymore!

(FYI love the fact we are having a debate)

I've never done any drugs harder than cannabis. A lot of my friends did a lot of drugs when we were younger but I was never interested mainly because if you buy it off the street you have no idea what is in it. I drank a lot in my teens-early 20s though so I don't think I'm "better" than anyone who does drugs. Alcoholism runs in my family and I've made a conscious decision to be more careful with my drinking these days but I still have the odd crazy night. Looking back I'm glad I never did drugs in my teens as I'm fairly sure I would have ended up in a lot of trouble. I've seen a lot of people mess their lives up over drugs/alcohol and it makes me really sad.

I'm on the fence about legalising drugs. While I think it would be good in terms of regulating the ingredients and reducing the crime that goes hand in hand with drug dealing, I can't help but worry about the knock on effects. Some people can't just do the odd line of coke, or the odd pill, they have to keep taking more and more to get the buzz they enjoy until they end up on heroin. I'm fairly sure I would have tried drugs in my teens if they were legally available and that worries me.

I agree with this with regards to some drugs - cannabis definately, possibly speed and LSD but when it comes to heroin or highly addictive drugs if it was readily available I think more people would try it leading to disasterous consequences.

I have dabbled in the past with weed and speed (and poppers - do they count?) but wouldn't now I am older and wiser just like I don't smoke anymore or binge drink.

Agree

I think as with all things in life ok in moderation (recreational drugs)

I don't like the way some people assume that because something is legal its ok for you and if something is illegal it is bad for you even tho long term effeccts of both can be similar.

Some people take legal highs because they are legal/natural and think they are OK for you, in my experience legal highs have made me feel more rough/during after then any illegal drug ever did.

so true!

I'm also on the fence. I agree with a lot of what you said, but then I wonder if the people who have addictive personalities are the ones who end up on heroin anyway whether it's legal or not? As in, someone who doesn't get anough of a buzz from alcohol and needs more is going to go in search of increasingly more addictive drugs, whether they're legal or not. If you want drugs, they're not that hard to get. And you might have been more likely to try drugs, but would you be any more likely to be become addicted?

I do also wonder about the amount of drug-related crime it would eradicate if drugs were legal. I think it's the hypocrisy around alcohol being legal that annoys me the most, alcohol is probably one of the most dangerous drugs, and a hell of a lot worse in my opinion than weed or coke.

I found that this is the case when I moved to Portsmouth, it's the done thing amongst our chums. Some of them arent even discreet about it.

Wow,,,,,,,,, everyone should care about yourself.

"Drugs is like getting up and having a cup of tea in the morning." - Noel Gallagher

Obviously not now I have kids, but it was certainly true before.

I have known people that have died because of drugs and I strongly believe that even though it was the drugs that killed them, their inner demons contributed more.

I have only lived in Portsmouth, Winchester or London where Coke use seems to be very standard? I just assumed its like that everywhere.

Its standard in Liverpool, and Manchester and Birmingham from what I've seen from friends living there.

Dont quote me will delete bits of this later.

I wholeheartedly agree with Mini.

I am sure we have had this or a similar debate before. EDIT

People will always use drugs, same way people will always use prostitutes. It's a story as old as time. legalise it, regulate it and control it. Make it safer.

You will never stop people trying drugs but you can regulate the industry and make it safer to try drugs and reduce crime surrounding the industry.