new shop disgrace

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by garinda

Without expert advice it can be tricky, deciding on a suitable tie, that works with a shirt...when due in court, or when attending a wedding, etc.

A great job for you there G fashion advisor to the stars

[BERNADETTE]

Originally Posted by tpickup

Blunt zilla new smoking shop on corner near petra like we need that in accy

Got to agree, in a town with a big alcohol and drug problem the last thing we need is a shop such as this Kids are to wise by far these days about such things and to allow items like this to be promoted in such a way is way out of order IMHO. Who gives these shops licence to operate????

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Got to agree, in a town with a big alcohol and drug problem the last thing we need is a shop such as this Kids are to wise by far these days about such things and to allow items like this to be promoted in such a way is way out of order IMHO. Who gives these shops licence to operate????

Was wondering about planning as well Bernie, where's Kate when you need her

[NayJaySlat]

Whether there is a shop there or not, people are gonna smoke weed.
You can improvise a bong from a bottle, or a pipe from a can.
People need to stop Bitching!!!

[garinda]

Originally Posted by NayJaySlat

Whether there is a shop there or not, people are gonna smoke weed.
You can improvise a bong from a bottle, or a pipe from a can.
People need to stop Bitching!!!

Some people sexually abuse children.

From your logic, you'd be happy to see shops selling child pornography?

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by NayJaySlat

Whether there is a shop there or not, people are gonna smoke weed.
You can improvise a bong from a bottle, or a pipe from a can.
People need to stop Bitching!!!

To some extent what you say is true, but somehow a shop that sells the accoutrements for such a pursuit, which by the way, is illegal gives it an air of respectability.
Acceptance of such illegal activities is the first step on the slippery slope.

People are not 'bitching' as you put it(I could have come up with a more acceptable and less offensive word for it, but there, you can't have everything can you?)they are discussing a subject on a public forum.

Garinda, you are right!

[MargaretR]

Intolerance of 'illegal' activity can go too far.
Practices that are illegal aren't neccessarily immoral,
it depends on the morals you have.

eg -
..drug abuse is illegal but not immoral so long as no-one but the user is harmed
..child abuse is both illegal and immoral

The restriction of personal freedoms can become ridiculous if we allow it to.

Imagine a society where it is illegal to eat meat
...would you campaign to close butchers shops?

During the prohibition era in America, this whole 'restriction of personal freedom' went way too far, and ended disastrously. The long lasting result was a criminal empire financed by illegal supply of alcohol. The same thing is happening now with the supply of illegal drugs.
It is debatable which does more personal harm -cannabis or alcohol.

We should allow a person to choose their own 'poison', if that is what they want to do.

I think that rebellious youth (we have all been that at sometime), would not be attracted to it as easily if it was legal, and there would not be 'criminals' encouraging them to use it.

PS - I had experience of addiction to a prescription drug. I have inhaled cannabis and was not addicted. I know which was the least harmful to me.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

..drug abuse is illegal but not immoral so long as no-one but the user is harmed

But others are harmed, when people are as high as a kite, on drugs.

I think you should have posted drug abuse isn't immoral...in your opinion.

Others, children of smack heads, the families of those killed by users, those who've been robbed by those who fund their habit by crime, rather than working for a living, may well disagree with you.

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by garinda

But others are harmed, when people are as high as a kite, on drugs.

I think you should have posted drug abuse isn't immoral...in your opinion.

Others, children of smack heads, the families of those killed by users, those who've been robbed by those who fund their habit by crime, rather than working for a living, may well disagree with you.

You describe 'irresponsible use' scenarios.

There are many people who drive cars whilst their reactions are impaired by prescription drugs and cause harm to others - that also is 'irresponsible use'.

Many alcoholics cause mayhem to their families and society - that also is 'irresponsible use'.

Even the possession of a stereo system can cause harm by 'irresponsible use'

So by your reckoning, all actions which have the potential to harm others should be illegal.

I say that the fact that they are illegal renders them attractive to the the very kind of people who lack any sense of responsibility

I suggest that the actual illegal 'crime' sould be 'irresponsible use' and not the use itself

[garinda]

So you think there is nothing immoral about using heroin, as long as it's done 'responsibly'?

We'll have to disagree on this point.

[MargaretR]

"We should allow a person to choose their own 'poison', if that is what they want to do."

Society's rules have changed - laudenum(an opiate) was fashionable amongst Victorian society idle housewives.

Morphine is prescribed to relieve pain legally.

Cannibis has that same effect on many chronic pain sufferers.

The pharmacutical companies are working at isolating the natural chemical which does that, in order that they can patent it and profit from it

The plant is not patentable - so that is the real reason it stays illegal.

[Margaret Pilkington]

You see, it is a discussion.

Margaret a cannabinoid medication is now available on prescription for some conditions.
It was being trialled whilst I was still part of the medical profession, some 8years ago.
Prior to that I knew one eminent surgeon and a few nurses who suffered from MS who used cannabis, (in its various forms) to alleviate their symptoms with very good effect.

I don't think many Pharma companies will get rich quick on this drug as it is easier(I am told) to get hold of the stuff to smoke.

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

You see, it is a discussion.


I don't think many Pharma companies will get rich quick on this drug as it is easier(I am told) to get hold of the stuff to smoke.

The NHS(our taxes) will pay for the drug - the people who need it usually are elderlyand/or have chronic conditions which qualify for prescriptions free.
It would not be logical for them to pay for the natural leaf and risk being criminalised for it.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Margaret, Many MS sufferers are young......they have to pay for their prescriptions, unless of course they buy the yearly passport.......and some doctors will not prescribe the Cannabis based drug(though I am not exactly sure why).....my sister in law has been suffering from MS for more than 30 years and has used cannabis resin to alleviate her symptoms, but has risked becoming criminalised because she initially could not get onto the trial.......but now can get the tablet medication, but says the resin is more effective.

As far as sufferers of Chronic conditions, well, as far as I know, and unless there has been a change in the rules about free prescriptions, there are more chronic conditions that do not get free prescriptions, than those who do.

[NayJaySlat]

You people need to get a grip, some people are only happy when they have something to moan about.
What is the big problem with smoking weed?
How many of you drink alcohol?

• FACT: Alcohol kills more people per year than all other drugs combined... Times one thousand.
  
  
• Nobody has ever died directly from cannabis use. Alcohol can cause death by alcohol poisoning, asphyxiation, cardiomyopathy, and cardiac infarct (heart attack).
  
  
• Impairment produced by alcohol increases the risks of accidents, and engagement in dangerous behaviour (particularly drink driving). It remains to be seen whether cannabis produces similar increases.
  
  
• There is strong evidence that high doses of alcohol taken during pregnancy can cause foetal alcohol syndrome. There is weak evidence that cannabis can cause similar adverse effects.

I do not agree with the above statement, but these are the facts!!!!

• The abrupt cessation of alcohol use in very heavy drinkers causes a well-known withdrawal effect that can kill if untreated. It is unclear whether any degree of withdrawal syndrome occurs after cessation of heavy cannabis use.
  
  
  
  
• There is strong evidence that heavy alcohol consumption can cause psychotic behaviour. There is suggestive evidence that cannabis may produce psychosis in people with a predisposition to mental illness.
  
  
• There is good evidence that alcohol can (indirectly) cause brain injury. With long-term heavy drinking, severe irreversible cognitive impairment can occur. Long-term cannabis use does not produce damage of comparable severity.

The shop is there now...And guess what??
Tough!!!!