Police bust cannabis factory in Newport (From South Wales Argus)

We need to stop this stupid and unwinnable war against cannabis. It is causing far more harm to our communities than it prevents. If we had a properly regulated system of production and supply we'd have no more illegal cannabis farms, instead we'd have thousands of new jobs. We'd have no more dealers on the streets. Cannabis would be available to adults only through licensed outlets and we'd have some control over the THC and CBD content.

Doctors would be able to prescribe one of the safest and most effective medicines that has no serious side effects at all. At the moment the government has given GW Pharmaceuticals an illegal monopoly on cannabis so they make millions out of a medicine that you can grow in your greenhouse for virtually nothing.

If we introduced a legally regulated system we would solve nearly all the problems around cannabis. Science proves how much safer it is than tobacco, alcohol, prescription medicines and all other recreational drugs. If anyone does have a problem with it they could get help without having to confess to a crime.

CLEAR published independent, expert research last year which shows that a tax and regulate policy on cannabis would produce a net gain to the UK economy of up to £9.3 billion per annum.

It is a scandal that our government, our judges, our courts, our police and our newspapers keep misleading us about cannabis. Find out the truth for yourself and wake up to the lies you have been told..

"Officers are investigating"
I thought we were short of money, yet we can afford to waste it with laws against informed choices.

Agree with the above.

People will believe what they are told to believe, but this is a situation that is never going to go away, so why the hell aren't we managing it responsibly and profiting from it.

The same, but far more debatable argument could be made about certain other socially misunderstood substances which, if regulated, could be used safely by those who wanted to and would reduce crime significantly.

With repect to the effects on young peoples' developing brain from research carried out (news 28 August 2012) reported by Professor Terri Moffitt, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London

"persistant cannabis use over 20 years was associated with neuro-phychological decline and greater decline was evident for more persistent users"

...the debate goes on whether cannabis is 'safe'.

You can get five years for possession of cannabis but it doesnt seem to discourage people from obtaining it anywhere that I know of.Whats the point of a law which just isnt enforcible?

Limestonecowboy wrote:
With repect to the effects on young peoples' developing brain from research carried out (news 28 August 2012) reported by Professor Terri Moffitt, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London

"persistant cannabis use over 20 years was associated with neuro-phychological decline and greater decline was evident for more persistent users"

...the debate goes on whether cannabis is 'safe'.

Yes but that's not really news is it? We know that any psychoactive substance can damage the developing brain, alcohol far more than cannabis.

Professor Moffitt also said:

"...cannabis is safe for over-18 brains".

And that IS news!

Limestonecowboy wrote:
With repect to the effects on young peoples' developing brain from research carried out (news 28 August 2012) reported by Professor Terri Moffitt, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London

"persistant cannabis use over 20 years was associated with neuro-phychological decline and greater decline was evident for more persistent users"

...the debate goes on whether cannabis is 'safe'.

So keeping the industry in the hands of criminals, is that your solution? The only ID a dealer requires is a 20 pound note.

Babs Stanley wrote:

Limestonecowboy wrote: With repect to the effects on young peoples' developing brain from research carried out (news 28 August 2012) reported by Professor Terri Moffitt, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London "persistant cannabis use over 20 years was associated with neuro-phychological decline and greater decline was evident for more persistent users" ...the debate goes on whether cannabis is 'safe'.

Yes but that's not really news is it? We know that any psychoactive substance can damage the developing brain, alcohol far more than cannabis. Professor Moffitt also said: "...cannabis is safe for over-18 brains". And that IS news!

so you agree can be damaging to the developing brain - not being concerned with under 18's aren't these tomorrows adults??

Adults-choice wrote:

Limestonecowboy wrote: With repect to the effects on young peoples' developing brain from research carried out (news 28 August 2012) reported by Professor Terri Moffitt, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London "persistant cannabis use over 20 years was associated with neuro-phychological decline and greater decline was evident for more persistent users" ...the debate goes on whether cannabis is 'safe'.

So keeping the industry in the hands of criminals, is that your solution? The only ID a dealer requires is a 20 pound note.

I don't have a solution but don't disagree something needs to be done. I don't know (or interested) the price of purchase.

Limestonecowboy wrote:

Babs Stanley wrote:

Limestonecowboy wrote: With repect to the effects on young peoples' developing brain from research carried out (news 28 August 2012) reported by Professor Terri Moffitt, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London "persistant cannabis use over 20 years was associated with neuro-phychological decline and greater decline was evident for more persistent users" ...the debate goes on whether cannabis is 'safe'.

Yes but that's not really news is it? We know that any psychoactive substance can damage the developing brain, alcohol far more than cannabis. Professor Moffitt also said: "...cannabis is safe for over-18 brains". And that IS news!

so you agree can be damaging to the developing brain - not being concerned with under 18's aren't these tomorrows adults??

I think the point is that prohibition gifts the cannabis market to criminals, and criminals dont care who they sell to, or what age group. The fact that cannabis is potentially harmful for kids and teens isnt really news, i thought it was common knowledge.

The news is cannabis is safe for adults to use. Bringing cannabis into a regulated market means ID checks and prevention, quality control and much less dealers on the streets. These are all measures to protect the young and vulnerable. As of now all a dealer needs to see is money, no ID needed as prohibition disallows regulation. So with a regulated system in place the adults of tomorrow would have a cannabis free childhood.

When a country regulates cannabis, the use goes down along with associated crime. Probably because kids find it harder to obtain. This currant policy makes cannabis easier for kids to get than alcohol and tobacco. Cannabis prohibition is a fail.

"The lesson has already been learned with alcohol prohibition. We tried to engineer an alcohol-free society and ended up with huge criminal enterprises, government corruption, children lured into organized crime and random violence that took the lives of countless innocent people."
- Kurt Schmoke, Mayor of Baltimore

I often feel that it smacks of prohibition era America. Millions of pounds of Policing budget being spent to fight a lost war that, in it's most industrial level of production, funds organized crime. Cannabis is smoked across the social and employment spectrum as alcohol was drunk in speakeasies across the USA.

Naturally, minors who's minds and bodies are not fully developed, need protecting from all intoxicants but this won't happen until regulation exists. Legalize it and tax it. That will regulate it, free up already committed law enforcement funds and even generate new funds.

I, personally, don't think it will happen because supporting the legalization of anything deemed a drug is kryptonite to politicians. Alcohol is a far more destructive drug yet is never referred to as such.

The solution is very simple. Bring back the birch for anyone caught using cannabis!

Limestonecowboy wrote:
With repect to the effects on young peoples' developing brain from research carried out (news 28 August 2012) reported by Professor Terri Moffitt, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London

"persistant cannabis use over 20 years was associated with neuro-phychological decline and greater decline was evident for more persistent users"

...the debate goes on whether cannabis is 'safe'.

Prof Terri Moffitt also said "I am confident that cannabis is safe for over 18's"

Lets face it. If as an adult you do anything to excess then it's going to cause you problems. However most can enjoy a few drinks without being engulfed by alcohol addiction. Infact many people enjoy a couple of glasses of wine most evenings.

Peer reviewed research is being released daily to support the fact that cannabis while not being "safe" is far far safer than the one recreational drug that the MoDA doesnt deem fit to classify.

If the MoDA was indeed based on harm and alcohol appeared tomorrow as a new legal high it would be banned instantly.

We need to tax and regulate if we are to ever win the war on drugs

I agree with some points made by GogExcile, however remember Cannabis is a class B drug which make it illegal to have for yourself, give away of sell. Keep lobbying your MPs for a change in the law in the meantime don't make the news!

Don't let my user name fool you to believe that I am a drug user (long story about the name) but I'm surprised that the British government hasn't allowed cannabis to be sold under restrictions yet. There is a huge market for it in the UK or any western country where the profits are passed directly to criminal gangs that fund other activities.

If the government were to allow this commonly perceived recreational drug to be sold to the same people that are old enough to buy alcohol then the tax revenue from it would be through the roof. It is surprising that a government that is happy to tax you for almost every activity doesn't want a slice of the pie in this instance.

As for my personal experience of pot-heads all they seem to do is sit around watching the TV and eating junk food. Go to town and see what excessive alcohol consumption will do to people.

Don't let my user name fool you to believe that I am a drug user (long story about the name) but I'm surprised that the British government hasn't allowed cannabis to be sold under restrictions yet. There is a huge market for it in the UK or any western country where the profits are passed directly to criminal gangs that fund other activities.

If the government were to allow this commonly perceived recreational drug to be sold to the same people that are old enough to buy alcohol then the tax revenue from it would be through the roof. It is surprising that a government that is happy to tax you for almost every activity doesn't want a slice of the pie in this instance.

As for my personal experience of pot-heads all they seem to do is sit around watching the TV and eating junk food. Go to town and see what excessive alcohol consumption will do to people.