Cocaine seizure - Dublin Port

And yet, not everybody becomes addicted to nicotine. So we could say it's not addictive either.

Same with alcohol, obviously not addictive because not everyone is addicted.

Of course weed is exactly the same, as is every drug.

Any evidence to back up these claims? or leading questions?

Besides that you're connecting alcoholics, with all smokers of cannabis. Have you ever tried working while stoned? Seriously. There are some jobs where it's doable, but.. in most cases, it's difficult to maintain, especially if you're expecting to achieve any kind of success. I get the feeling that you're just repeating the college student stoner stereotype, or thinking that most stoners are like hippies.

What do you mean by "seldom fully not under the influence of cannabis"?

Then stop. and keep us updated

I did stop. For well over a decade, until my doctor suggested that I start again, because it was the only thing that "managed" my shaking disorder. While there are some side effects with cannabis, they're far less intrusive and dangerous than many of the legal drugs out there that are recommended for various conditions.

Yeah it's grand to disagree, you are of course entitled to opinion (even if there is a large body of evidence going against you). But to be honest, I don't even want to debate you on this.

I gave you an out, so that you wouldn't need to debate further on this, but here you are continuing with it.

As for evidence, a lot of this evidence is US based, which is biased considering the Political ramifications of the war on drugs, and the influence of the corporations. There's been a variety of documentaries and investigations showing how US policy led to the demonisation of the drug. There's also quite a bit of research showing the positive effects of cannabis, and how it can be used/produced to minimize the negative effects.

My overall opinion on canabis use is that it is a problematic drug, causes a lot of harm and whereas once I would have been all gung ho about legalising it etc I think many people are sleepwalking into problems with its use.

I'd doubt many supporters of cannabis are sleepwalking into anything, since any regular smoker/user of cannabis will know the side effects. Intimately. We all know the possible memory impairment that can come from it. We know the possible paranoia that can occur. We know the lethargy/laziness that can happen. None of this is a secret... and many long-term users have found ways to avoid these negatives when it happens to them, or others have never experienced them at all, but considering that cannabis is often a social drug, they'll see the effects on friends that use it regularly.

There is no mystery regarding cannabis usage. It's probably the most well-known drug apart from alcohol.

Many of the negatives that come from cannabis, arise due to the illegal aspect, like the mixing of cannabis with other substances, before sale is made. Legalising would encourage a higher quality of product, removing most substances that are added which cause harm. Purer strains of weed, properly prepared and distributed is light years different from most of the crap that makes it out on to the streets, and considering the advances in tech over the last three decades, there have also been advances in splicing weed to produce better strains.

I think there needs to be a lot more education around this. Otherwise we will be in the same mess as we are with alcohol.

I agree that there should be more education about cannabis usage, but some honesty and a lack of bias would be far more useful. Education that seeks to preach the negatives of cannabis usage is not going to do anything productive.

Cocaine, cannabis and alcohol are three huge problem drugs and manifest their problems in different ways. The legality or relevant addictiveness to each other doesn't have much impact on harm caused to individuals and society as a whole.

The damage that cannabis does to individuals and society as a whole is minor, due to the nature of the drug itself. You very rarely find violent stoners, unless they're under the influence of another drug at the same time. You won't find stoners stealing from others to maintain their habit.. because they can simply wait until they have the cash for it. It's not even remotely close to cocaine.. and alcohol is a different situation entirely.

I'm not entering debate. I think anyone claiming that the effects of cannabis are minor (and it's nothing to do with violent stoners or any other such nonsense) are delusional.

Ok then, what are these effects, since you've dismissed everything I've referred to? Be specific

Three different substances, three different impacts on society.

Two really, since the topic is really about illegal drugs... and alcohol will never be made illegal. And if it is, then we truly have entered the age of the Nanny government, and given up our free will.

I agree with some points you make the cannabis (I'm glad soap bar pumped full of bags and tyres isn't being smoked for example, but some of these "purer" strains are also way more potent and I believe ultimately more damaging for some).

For some. So, if one person out of twenty is affected negatively, you would see that as reason to prevent access?

But as you say, in the main, difference of opinion. I'm not on here for an argument.

But you're arguing... even while you claim that you're not.