Legal Cannabis

There's a petition on change.org about legalising medicinal use of cannabis in Australia. Check it out!

http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/jillian-skinner-decriminalise-the-...

I think they should just legalise it period.

Grow high quality pot and distribute at a fair price from registered dispensaries, tax it and reap the benefits.

This may go someway towards taking it out of the hands of the bikies, or Asian criminal growers and divert that cash into tackling bigger problems like methamphetimine or heroin. The balance of the money can be plowed into drug education.

I'm not a smoker and I gave up alcohol quite a while a go now, but I bet I'm not the only one that can see that the whole industry built on criminalising weed has not been affective. I think it's time for a different approach.

Fair call Sheepio, good thread.

I'm all for it, hey I could say I've got a back problem and start smoking again, which I used to... Live on it.
But know I succomb to the dreaded alcohol as my vice...........? Why.........?
Because I get drug tested with Woodside and similar companies working in the oil and gas....?

Would smoking the green make me a better person...? Yes I think so. The numerous times I have falling off things pissed and broken shit in the last few years is out of this world.. I kid you guys not.
7 ribs last year, ouuch, scapular about 5 weeks ago...? Numerous stitches etc........?
I'm fucking over it,.........!
We all have vices and to say the least I love getting away from the realm of reality, always have.

Thats it I'm joining Zen sans Alcoholics Anonymous Group in Japan, fuck it ;)

Seriously Welly, try it.

I was a full blown piss-head for the majority of my life. God how much did I love a drink, beer, wine, whiskey, vodka, sake, shochu anything except rum or tequila. I suppose I could even have called myself a functioning alcoholic. I used to have the ability to drink in viking proportions but never missed a day of work, was never late, could still surf the only thing was my noticible beer belly and moobs. It didn't help the industry I was in back in Oz is drenched in alcohol.

Anyway, almost 11 months down the track from my last drink, I don't miss it, don't want it and I've dropped 7kg without any change to diet or amount of exercise. Not to mention my clarity of mind. Every day I jump out of bed and I'm ready to go. Still got a 6 pack of primo Japanese beer that I got for my birthday nearly 5 months ago. Unbelievable. Plus, I'm saving heaps as well as a consequence.

Anyway, back on track, I don't believe pot is a gateway drug. It's not as if I'm inclined to run out and jab a syringe in my arm after having a choof. I just think pot should be legalised medically and recreationally to take the money out of the hands of the large scale growers and put it back into things like treatment and education.

I joined zens AA club about 7 years ago.........after about 30 years on it[ beer only] thurs, fri, sat nite tanked and a sunday arvo session for a wind down
stopped drinking dropped 9 kilos .......about 7 of that was around my gut
used to roll up at work with a stinking hangover......pie with sauce and a can of coke and a winny red at smoko.....perfect hangover cure.
these days love a couple of social carpark coldies after a epic day of surf.....had a carton sit home untouched for 6 mths or more gave it away to a mate....who said WTF no gives away cartons ?
fucking shudder when I think back about driving to work after a big night only 4hrs sleep still really full of piss way over the limit then at work operating 9 inch grinders and 36000 psi hydrojets etc
give it a try Welly- hard to do in your work environment, oil and gas boys love to drink......but sit back sober and listen to the shit they talk at the bar...that be enough to make you stop
Fuck I don't miss it at all up ready to go for the early every morn full of fucking life !

I found out from some of my older brothers friends that I first smoked pot when I was 6 years old! I walked up while they were smoking a joint and they made me have a puff so I wouldn't tell!

Haven't smoked weed for many years now and only have a light beer when it's over 40 degrees these days.
Never got into harder drugs despite my early introduction to weed so I don't buy into the gateway drug thing either.

I am not sure we should legalise it. I think decriminalisation is enough, SA has had it for years now and it seems to work fine. Do we really need to introduce another drug into Australian society? Australians being the decadent hedonists they are, taking the stigma or disincentive away (little as they are) will only increase use I believe.

Maybe legalising medical marijuana is alright, but do it for medical purposes only. I saw dateline or some show like that do a show on the 'medical marijuana' system in Colorado (I think) and it was a fucking joke. People blatantly joking about having ailments so they could get recreational pot. Talk to Americans and they say the same. Everyone knows the 'good doctor' that will give you the required prescription. Yeh it has medical merits but the amount of facebook crap I receive from potheads spruiking the medical benefits is a joke. It has nothing to do with medical benefits, its about getting stoned.

Disclosure Statement: I do smoke pot, sometimes, at those times I smoke a shitload, and other times I don't touch the stuff.

Haha thats gold fellas.
A: I have no friends, thats why I'm talking to you guys. haha
B:I hear you all.
C: My excuse is that I only drink half of the year, being offshore you can't.
D: I love being from the boring straight ol realm ;( Why I ask myself, I have no idea, maybe because I love adrenalin...? Have been fuelled with it, so many times... Who knows..? Does alcohol give me that boost....?
No, NO no.

I'm learning though and thanks to this AAA talk I'm growing. forever growing.
Thanks fellas, much appreciated, I had to open up here, no honestly, I'm serious now :)
Thanks heaps, real heaps, I mean it, Honest.
Love you guys :) XXXxxxxxxxxx
I need a hankie now ....
Back to the good OL spliiff, Ganga, Smoko, Chuff, doot dooot, Puff, come on lets ...? Roll one, Fattie, Skinna, Greeno, Budio, Straighto no Bacie, Singlie, Joint, Bong, Bucket, oops forgot the spots, dots, Vegemites, oil , green slim, hard dots, have I forgot something....?

I just have to re-post this 1970's anti-marijuana commercial. No matter how many times I see it I still piss myself laughing;)
http://m.

Hey Wellymon have you tried that chronic stuff? that is what the WA miners I meet are smoking for same reasons you say you cannot smoke pot.

Pot is pretty harmless, especially compared to alcohol, just ask a cop, but again to legitimise it, I'm not sure.

Apparently NZ has given up the fight. I am not sure if it just the synthetic drugs or everything, but trying to police the synthetic drugs they were just chasing their tale so gave up, not sure how true that is.

Yeh Sheepdog you are right about cultures using them for thousands of years but the use was constrained by seasons and ceremonies, pretty sure they weren't getting on it every night like many Aussies. Also not too many witchdoctors had access to Meth-amphetamine, lots of fun in a controlled dance party/ceremony situation but pretty soon many users want to dance every night!!

Pot is fairly harmless but meth is bad news.....

pot is not a gateway drug, there is no such thing. the fact that pot is illegal means that in order to get your hands on it, you have to go through 'criminals', and this is where the gateway can begin. imagine if it were just like going down to the servo and buying a pack a durries. will be interesting to see all the changes that take place in the next 20 years or so to marijuana prohibition, just look at Colorado, Uruguay and more recently Jamaica to highlight the change in attitudes. wonder wholl be next

I love a drink, and occasional smoke, always have weed in the freezer for when mates comes round and want a joint. Apart from that I don't really touch it. I've always grown a little outdoorey every year, not much just for my mates mainly. I got mates that are fully addicted to the shit, I can take it or leave it no dramas. Wish I could Say the same for the booze........I do love a beer.
Welly, a few years ago I quit buying full strengths, and started buying mid strengths , Coopers Mild Ale I've found best. It has been a good change. I can still have a few, and I don't get fucked up like I used to. I stop after a few now rather than finding a half a slab of empty bottles on the back table after a 'quiet night in'.
I agree with sheepdog, legalise dope for medical reasons, but like all drugs some people will be fine and keep it under control, others will take it to the extreme get screwed up, I've seen both endings many times.

I now agree with the catch phrase of "everything in moderation". It must have something to do with older age and wisdom! In my youth it was everything to excess and now I pay.

I no longer totally agree with pot being harmless or reletively harmless. I thought so when I was younger, even gave the booze away for years, but after too many years of smoking pot to excess, I now know that it certainly isn't the case. One example that drives me mad is my memory. It is fucked. Even though I haven't smoked for well over 7-8 years, and it is improving a little, it is so frustrating having conversations with old friend etc talking about the past and they remember everything in detail and I can only remember being there. I remember as a young fella having a brilliant memory, but these days its shot, and I'm convinced in myself it was because of the excess that I used it. I wasn't one of these smokers that just vegged out sitting around doing fuck all, it was the oposite for me, I was always doing something, it was just that I was always stoned.

But back on topic, I think that medicinal use should be legalised. I watched the program the other night and it just shows how fucked up society is with the brainwashed mentality and how fucking out of touch our politicians are. It's infuriating. Sure, my example above is from recreational excess and that is what blinds the masses from into looking into the benifits. The benifits for the medicinal use was clearly outlined on the program and has been documented for decades. It may not suit everyone in all applications, but there are plenty, even a majority of people that it will benefit and improve or comfort there ilnesses, whether it be terminal or long term. We are looking at legalisation for medicinal use, not recreational, even though I firmly believe that the laws regarding recreational use are draconian, that is for another topic.

Thats my 2c worth anyway.

Zen, Udo and Welly, you've got me thinking a little more seriously now about my love of beer. Eveytime I look down at the ever growing veranda in disgust, I think it may be time to start working on the eradication of it. Not prepared to give up the beer completely, but perhaps look back at the catchphrase "everything in.................................... Fuck, I must be getting old and sensible, it's another hard battle to fight (becoming sensible that is!!). :)

Fitzy, don't give up completely but just see how you go. Try it for a month. Pride is keeping me going now because initially I wanted to see if I had the strength of mind to do it. One month became two, two became three and now I'm just one month short of a year. For me, this has been a major change in my life. I've even noticed that I tend to be a little more measured these days when posting on Swellnet. Some of the shit I used to dribble when I'd post late at night drunk was laughable (and not in a good way).

I would drink on average a 6pack of beer a night, every night and often have a couple of vodkas as a nightcap to back it up. That in my opinion is excessive. Not so much now but when going out, I'd drink till the place closed or I ran out of money. I drank that way for years and years. I'm embarrassed to write this but that was the extent of my drinking and the catalyst for that change was one day looking at my naked self in the mirror. Gone was the thoroughbred and in it's place stood a bloated donkey. I stopped that night. Also, during my annual physical check up, everything was fine except my BMI (obviously) and my liver function.

Since being off the piss, my body has returned to where I'm not embarrassed to take my shirt off at the beach, my liver has returned to normal, I'm saving heaps of coin, I go to bed earlier and get up early every day. My mind is clear and sharp and as a bonus, the wifey is happier because I pay a lot more attention to her, we can drive anywhere and at anytime and we make love more often. I'm surfing better again, for longer and have more motivation to get out there too.

I'm not a wowser and I dare say I will have another drink one day. Got a trip to Europe coming up and how could I go to France without having a couple of glasses of a nice Bordeaux or not have a pint in some cosy English pub? Also, the premium liquor they have in the lounges or on the plane? Last time I went back to oz had a 5 hour stopover in Taipei and got shitfaced in the lounge there and kept drinking on the plane. I was so hungover landing in Brissie that morning. I was kind of ashamed to see my parents in the condition I was in. Now, I really think I could have a drink or two and leave it there. It's a slippery slope and something I'm very conscious of.

Be careful though, if you're a heavy beer drinker in my experience you'll crave sugar, so in order to get that sugar high you'll turn to sweets. I never noticed it first but I started craving ice-cream and chocolate. I've started trying to eliminate as much sugar out of my diet as possible too now, when I noticed that I'd put back on a couple of the kilos that I'd lost.

Anyway, I'm not advocating what or how much of anything a person chooses to put in their body, just for me beer and other liquor was a monkey on my back for years. He's still there but I'm doing my best to shoo him away.

Also, I smoked a lot of weed too for years, gave that up 10 years ago. Don't miss it either.

I'm fully for legal cannabis, for a whole raft of reasons that would make a novella if I were to get into it.

I will say I've been following this debate and associated research for at least 10 years, the research and evidence for both medicinal use and breaking the failed drug war model is for the affirmative.

When put up against legal pharma, alcohol and tobacco, cannabis is the least harmful of the lot. Yes, it still must be used with caution and moderation, however the positives far out way the negatives, both in physical and mental health, and economy.

Alcohol, what a nasty beast that is, I gave up 10 yrs ago after heavy drinking for 15 yrs, without doubt the best thing I ever did for myself and all those around me, especially my family. I was never a "bad" drunk, I was the guy who stayed happy all the way, but I also had a cast iron constitution for drinking, when all where falling down around me I would be the last man standing...nothing to be proud of, just a sad fact that enabled me to consume far too much until my liver, kidneys and spleen packed in at 30 yrs old.

As for a smoke, I was a heavy dope smoker way back, growing up in SA, being decriminalised with a 10 plant limit, fuck, the sky was the limit. These days I still enjoy the rare toke, but only use vapourisers when I do. It's a rare thing for me, like when on annual leave cause of the DnA policies I work under - which keeps that odd toke far more enjoyable than being wasted too often.

http://phoenixtears.ca/

Yeah Zen, not going to stop completely, just on week nights. My consumption would be on par with yours (pre-stopping). I know I can do it mentally, as I did with durries and hooter, I just have to want to and I am at that stage now, so we'll see how I go.

Hearing everyones weight loss just by stopping/reducing the piss, particularly around the mid-drift, is motivation enough also.

TGF, I'm with you on the legalisation and the arguements for, particularly for medicinal purposes, there is just that blurry line where it becomes excessive and the damage begins. It effects everyone differently and if you have the mind set to keep it in MODERATION, I don't believe there is too much harm to MOST people.

Humans are addicted to altered states. It begins when you are a kid and spin round and round 'till you get dizzy and fall over laughing, or rolling down a hill. You just didn't do it all day every day. I think we should treat rec drugs the same.

fitzroy-21 wrote:

TGF, I'm with you on the legalisation and the arguements for, particularly for medicinal purposes, there is just that blurry line where it becomes excessive and the damage begins. It effects everyone differently and if you have the mind set to keep it in MODERATION, I don't believe there is too much harm to MOST people.

Humans are addicted to altered states. It begins when you are a kid and spin round and round 'till you get dizzy and fall over laughing, or rolling down a hill. You just didn't do it all day every day. I think we should treat rec drugs the same.

Yep, the addiction key is different for everyone - some people shouldn't eat hamburgers.

My theory is that illegal weed is potentially a gateway drug while legal weed is much less likely to be.

My other theory is that if God had wanted us to smoke dope he would have made it grow on trees…..rather than in a basement in the suburbs. Hydro these days can be scary as an ISIL militant at a Christian convention. So instead of maybe rolling up some (low potency) home grown, kids get to mess with their brain chemistry in ways which can cause more damage than was ever possible in the '70s.

As Joe Strummer said "I smoked enough dope when I was younger to turn into a bush". But I wouldn't be too excited if my son was heavily into herb…..the science seems to point towards it being less than ideal for developing brains...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130827091401.htm

http://healthland.time.com/2010/10/29/marijuna-as-a-gateway-drug-the-myth-that-will-not-die/

Patterns in progression of drug use from adolescence to adulthood are strikingly regular. Because it is the most widely used illicit drug, marijuana is predictably the first illicit drug most people encounter. Not surprisingly, most users of other illicit drugs have used marijuana first. In fact, most drug users begin with alcohol and nicotine before marijuana — usually before they are of legal age.

In the sense that marijuana use typically precedes rather than follows initiation of other illicit drug use, it is indeed a “gateway” drug. But because underage smoking and alcohol use typically precede marijuana use, marijuana is not the most common, and is rarely the first, “gateway” to illicit drug use. There is no conclusive evidence that the drug effects of marijuana are causally linked to the subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs.

On young minds and hydro - mutually exclusive IMO.

Jello Biafra - 'Grow More Pot'

Little bit old now but Jello explains the history behind govt crackdown on marijuana. Nothing to do with getting high but how extracting resources - chemicals, materials - from marijuana threatened US corporations who in turn pressured the govt to outlaw hemp. Def worth a listen.

I guess one thing to remember is not everyone can be saved all the time from a product the is either legal or illegal, and no how much education is put in place. Some people will fall by the wayside no matter what, it sounds cruel but that is just the chaotic rule of nature.

I've seen it first hand, my step son suffered terribly for several years due to heavy hydro use as a teenager...he went into it with serious emotional problems due to an abusive biological father and came out the other side even more fucked up. As good as gold these days, but a hard road was traveled...and no matter what systems are put in place, each individual will tread their own path.

stunet wrote:

Jello Biafra - 'Grow More Pot'

Little bit old now but Jello explains the history behind govt crackdown on marijuana. Nothing to do with getting high but how extracting resources - chemicals, materials - from marijuana threatened US corporations who in turn pressured the govt to outlaw hemp. Def worth a listen.

More than just than just the resource and textile industries - racism played a heavy hand.

http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/why-is-marijuana-illegal/

sypkan wrote:

Hey Wellymon have you tried that chronic stuff? that is what the WA miners I meet are smoking for same reasons you say you cannot smoke pot.

Pot is pretty harmless, especially compared to alcohol, just ask a cop, but again to legitimise it, I'm not sure.

Apparently NZ has given up the fight. I am not sure if it just the synthetic drugs or everything, but trying to police the synthetic drugs they were just chasing their tale so gave up, not sure how true that is.

Yeh Sheepdog you are right about cultures using them for thousands of years but the use was constrained by seasons and ceremonies, pretty sure they weren't getting on it every night like many Aussies. Also not too many witchdoctors had access to Meth-amphetamine, lots of fun in a controlled dance party/ceremony situation but pretty soon many users want to dance every night!!

Yes have once in NZ a few years back, called K2 due to the reason of changing the chemical breakdown...? Horrible shit, Had been drinking tho and was the first time I had a toke for 3-4 years, YUK.

I'm not sure about the synthetic drugs in NZ, but thats interesting as what I explained above...?
I know a chemist offshore and I think he knows al lot about that carry on back home, Some smart chemists back there;) hahahaha.

As for Meth, that is a destroyer, seen many a people go way down on that.
Loved watching Breaking Bad tho ;)

off topic but it involves Jello - its funny - and some one is def ripped here.. http://dangerousminds.net/comments/jello_biafra_meets_the_ufo_cult_the_l...

skip to the youtube link to here Jello interview ufo cult..

ok im out..

Ironically, the same kind of companies that played a role in outlawing cannabis are now looking to get back in the trade.
Monsanto have expressed their interest in GMO'ing cannabis and taking control of at least 40% of the US cannabis market.

And to the totally fucking ridiculous.

https://www.facebook.com/MMYVofficial

This is just one example of their crazy trolling bullshit.

Quote Fitzy " I no longer totally agree with pot being harmless or reletively harmless. I thought so when I was younger, even gave the booze away for years, but after too many years of smoking pot to excess, I now know that it certainly isn't the case. One example that drives me mad is my memory. It is fucked. Even though I haven't smoked for well over 7-8 years, and it is improving a little, it is so frustrating having conversations with old friend etc talking about the past and they remember everything in detail and I can only remember being there. I remember as a young fella having a brilliant memory, but these days its shot, and I'm convinced in myself it was because of the excess that I used it. I wasn't one of these smokers that just vegged out sitting around doing fuck all, it was the opposite for me, I was always doing something, it was just that I was always stoned."

Yeah I was exactly the same Fitzy, full bore doing shit, surfing, climbing mountains, snowboarding etc but like you say stoned all the time. When I meet up with real friends from a long while back, they talk about the shit we did.... Hahaha can I remember any of it .. Fuck no, only snippets....? Shocking memory and I myself am embarrassed of it, but its quite funny, sometimes I wish they hadn't told me of things that I did ;).

Decriminalisation I reckon. Marijuana is the only real industry in a lot of parts of regional Australia. Employs many people and puts a lot of money through many communities that would otherwise have no income. It may be a sideline of many criminal syndicates but if it was legalised it would only enrich and empower those multi nationals that are on the right side of the law but maybe are just as bereft of morality as your local bikies. Just on a grander scale.

Whilst maybe the quality of product would not suffer in the hands of the multi nationals, the organic nature of most outdoors style Mull would disappear as propagation utilising large scale mono culture and it's inherent chemicalization would occur in the pursuit of profit maximisation.

Though I'm sure for the more discerning buyer willing to pay a bit more there would be some amazing gear out there from boutique producers.

I'm not sure how many people actually get stung by current laws, I personally only know two people that have been impacted. Though their lives were pretty harshly affected.

Heard a news story this morning on ABC radio, about Ted Kennedy's son (didn't catch his name) fighting against the med mull.
He openly admitted to spending most of his 16(?) years as a senator out of it with piss and prescription pills.
He wasn't against people getting stoned.
What he was against was BIG business barging into the debate cause they can see mega profits coming their way, and he didn't want them ramming it down our (and our kids) throats, though advertising and any other means.

Great screen savers for the visual ones..........Dot Art

Welly, I can see the smokers out there giving those screen savers a resounding thumbs up.

I'm not even stoned and they spin me out.

i agree with mothart.. letting big business get their hands on weed is bad news especially if you take into account the alleged comments re monsanto, from previous posters. tobacco is legal but you can not grow your own.

if legalization means you can only buy the product from a brand, but not grown your own then fuck that.. we know how that ends...

Interesting story on ABC's Foreign Correspondent last night, Marijuana Inc.

http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2014/s4027079.htm

Those business guys on the ABC were a little scary.

thermalben wrote:

Those business guys on the ABC were a little scary.

Yeah, those Privateer Holdings guys were coming on strong alright, looking all hip and jiggy with it, with a slick marketing campaign, all the while with an underlying stench of greed and grab for power.

The slick looking team ready to corner the market.
http://www.privateerholdings.com/team/

The gentle art of separating customers from their money...all smiles, love and light.
https://www.tilray.ca/

stunet wrote:

Jello Biafra - 'Grow More Pot'

Little bit old now but Jello explains the history behind govt crackdown on marijuana. Nothing to do with getting high but how extracting resources - chemicals, materials - from marijuana threatened US corporations who in turn pressured the govt to outlaw hemp. Def worth a listen.

read my mind and stopped me looking for a link to post...AND I AM NOT ON YAGE!

or am I???

Have a go with "Salvia Divinorum"

Holly fuck, I tell ya an experience to say the least ;)