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Cannabis festival '420'

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muz379

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Well I didn't know these things existed but today I recieved a nice flyer (promptly filed in the bin with the remainder of the junkmail) inviting me to a 420 day at the local park . Apparently it is a festival to celebrate "cannabis culture"

Local press confirms it is actually a real thing as well and not someone who has had too many brownies and gone leafletting aimlessly
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...news/cannabis-festival-420-set-return-9029684
Dan Thompson said:
An annual festival celebrating cannabis is set to take place in a Manchester park again next weekend.

Hundreds of people are expected to go to the ‘420’ event at Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield on Sunday - as part of a series of worldwide events which campaign for the legalisation of marijuana.

I kinda thought that cannabis use was illegal and doing it openly in a public park at a gathering for that purpose might not be a good idea but it seems this same thing happened last year and the police didn't do anything which I found interesting .

What do people make of this ?

Me personally obviously being a safety critical member of rail staff I cant and wouldn't take any drugs but I used to live with someone who smoked it sometimes and personally I don't see the big deal about it If It where up to me I would just legalize it for use at home behind closed doors and let people get on with it .
 
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Mojo

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Yes it is a real thing. It took place on Easter Sunday last year and there was a massive event in Hyde Park. The whole area absolutely stank and there were streams of people doubling in at the Tube station and abusing the staff.
 

DownSouth

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I kinda thought that cannabis use was illegal ...
That's why you 'celebrate cannabis culture' instead of openly saying you'll all smoke it together.

It will most likely be a far less disruptive event with far less need for the police to break it up than if thousands of people gathered for an event to celebrate drinking culture together.
 

DaleCooper

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Cannabis is said in medical quarters, together with the stronger version of it, as being a causation of certain unfortunate medical problems in young adults.

Rather like aspirin, paracetamol, penicillin, tobacco, alcohol etc.

As a matter of interest what would be a fortunate medical problem?
 

muz379

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Cannabis is said in medical quarters, together with the stronger version of it, as being a causation of certain unfortunate medical problems in young adults.

I understand that there is some suggestion it can cause mental health issues particularly amongst young and frequent users of the drug .

However I also understand that there are also a lot of medical quarters who consider it an excellent form of pain relief for people suffering from conditions like MS . Indeed a lot of states in the united states are legalizing the drug .

That's why you 'celebrate cannabis culture' instead of openly saying you'll all smoke it together.

It will most likely be a far less disruptive event with far less need for the police to break it up than if thousands of people gathered for an event to celebrate drinking culture together.

The news story suggested though that last year many people openly smoked it at the event and the police took no action . Just found that quite interesting in itself that people openly broke the law and faced no action for this .

As I said in my OP I personally have no problem with legalizing it as you rightly point out the people I know who take it cause no issue for the police when they are under the effects of the drug even if they have taken "too much" they merely get hungry then fall asleep . Meanwhile look at the streets of any major town or city on a Friday or Saturday night and you will see the problems caused by the overindulgence of alcohol a perfectly legal drug .

But that being said presently the law is the law and weather you agree with it or not society only works in laws are followed and upheld
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Rather like aspirin, paracetamol, penicillin, tobacco, alcohol etc.

As a matter of interest what would be a fortunate medical problem?

How many of the examples that you cite in the first part of your posting shewn above are said to be classified as being in categories A, B or C under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971?

In response to your second query raised, noting that you have decided to question one of the RailUK forums Heads of Pedantry, one might look to the grammatical comparison of a similar negative, by asking whilst there is a charge of "Indecent Assault" that can be brought against an individual, one would not suppose that there would be a situation where "Decent Assault" may be spoken of as a comparative matter.

"Blessed are the lexicologists, for they shall bring enlightenment into the minds of the grammatically challenged"
 

Tetchytyke

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Cannabis is said in medical quarters, together with the stronger version of it, as being a causation of certain unfortunate medical problems in young adults.

There's definitely a link between skunk use and schizophrenia, as well as other unpleasant mental health conditions, but the jury is still out whether it is a causal link.

Does skunk cause mental health problems or are people with mental health problems "self medicating" with skunk? The answer is probably a bit of both.

I don't see the problem with cannabis use, other than the fact it stinks (but then so does tobacco). The police seem to be increasingly pragmatic about it too; unless you're dealing it, growing it or causing trouble whilst using it they don't really care.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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I don't see the problem with cannabis use, other than the fact it stinks (but then so does tobacco). The police seem to be increasingly pragmatic about it too; unless you're dealing it, growing it or causing trouble whilst using it they don't really care.

One might well ask as to the number of properties, both domestic and commercial in nature, that are subject to raids by the forces of the Police where many examples of the cannabis plant can be found to be in full cultivation and many times found to be looked after by an illegal immigrant employed by members of the criminal fraternity.
 

MCR247

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I had a major operation last year and I will admit that I did 'prescribe myself' some and it was the only painkiller weaker than morphine that did anything about some of the types of pain. It also had the advantage of not making me feel like utter crap
 

DaleCooper

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How many of the examples that you cite in the first part of your posting shewn above are said to be classified as being in categories A, B or C under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971?[/B]

None of them but being legal doesn't make a drug safe.

In response to your second query raised, noting that you have decided to question one of the RailUK forums Heads of Pedantry, one might look to the grammatical comparison of a similar negative, by asking whilst there is a charge of "Indecent Assault" that can be brought against an individual, one would not suppose that there would be a situation where "Decent Assault" may be spoken of as a comparative matter.

"Blessed are the lexicologists, for they shall bring enlightenment into the minds of the grammatically challenged"

I suggest that the use of "indecent" in the term "indecent assault" is to differentiate it from other forms of assault, this is not true in the case of "unfortunate medical problem" which is merely tautology.

I pass the pedantry baton to you.
 
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Xenophon PCDGS

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None of them but being legal doesn't make a drug safe.

Agreed with you on that matter, but by not being subject to the strictures stated in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, they are not items that can be said to be illegal. There are gradual moves afoot to ensure the marketing of certain commercially-based tobacco products such as cigarettes are being affected by means of plain packaging with graphic health warnings and also by the recent legal insistence that these products should not now be displayed on public view in retail establishments. Paracetamol tablets were once readily made commercially available for retail sale in canisters of large quantities but these days, a package size of 16 tablets seems to be the norm in retail establishments. One might well ask what medical advice was sought which led to this size of packaging now being the accepted norm. Penicillin, to the best of my knowledge, is not a readily available product sold in retail establishments where misuse of it by members of the general public can be a source of a medical emergency.

Have you any personal views on the medical affects of so-called "legal highs" and how do you see the law that could well govern such products being changed to bring these products into the remit and strictures legally governed legislation?

I am not speaking for or against the matter of pain alleviation by the use of any of the types of a cannabis-based derivative, but strictly on how matters are reflected by the laws of the Statute Book are said to be at this present moment in time.
 

DaleCooper

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Agreed with you on that matter, but by not being subject to the strictures stated in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, they are not items that can be said to be illegal. There are gradual moves afoot to ensure the marketing of certain commercially-based tobacco products such as cigarettes are being affected by means of plain packaging with graphic health warnings and also by the recent legal insistence that these products should not now be displayed on public view in retail establishments. Paracetamol tablets were once readily made commercially available for retail sale in canisters of large quantities but these days, a package size of 16 tablets seems to be the norm in retail establishments. One might well ask what medical advice was sought which led to this size of packaging now being the accepted norm. Penicillin, to the best of my knowledge, is not a readily available product sold in retail establishments where misuse of it by members of the general public can be a source of a medical emergency.

Have you any personal views on the medical affects of so-called "legal highs" and how do you see the law that could well govern such products being changed to bring these products into the remit and strictures legally governed legislation?

I am not speaking for or against the matter of pain alleviation by the use of any of the types of a cannabis-based derivative, but strictly on how matters are reflected by the laws of the Statute Book are said to be at this present moment in time.

I was recently prescribed some painkillers which had a warning on the packet that they should not be taken for more than three days as that can lead to addiction., there was sufficient in the packet for four days at the maximum dose.

Regarding penicillin, it was misuse by the medical profession which led to penicillin resistant strains of bacteria.

I don't have any experience of, nor strong views on, legal highs however as far as the currently illegal drugs are concerned I firmly believe that the problems arising from criminalising leisure users and addicts are far greater than those that would result from decriminalisation. I have no love for Tesco but I would prefer them to be the distrubutors rather than the criminal gangs who currently use fear and violence to make huge profits at the expense of the vulnerable in society, have no interest in rehabilitation or medical care of addicts and are also involved in many other criminal activities.

Remember the failure of the American prohibition of alcohol.
 
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TheKnightWho

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I would be very surprised if cannabis is not legal in this country within 10 years' time.
 

DarloRich

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Seems the police are missing an ideal opportunity to crack a few pot head heads! Round them up I say. Drug addled scum. What do i pay my taxes for?
 

Tetchytyke

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Regarding penicillin, it was misuse by the medical profession which led to penicillin resistant strains of bacteria.

The main problem has nothing to do with doctors or the medical profession, it is the use of antibiotics in agriculture (especially in the US cattle industry).
 

Tim R-T-C

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I must admit to being conflicted on the issue:

If cannabis was legalised it would rob criminal gangs of a lot of revenue. I knew a lot of dope smokers at Uni and many of them went to druggies to get their weed but would never have considered hard drugs. There is big money in growing weed and people will often use dangerous tricks like bypassing electrical meters in abandoned houses to grow it in bulk.

However, the current 'legal high' trend shows that people assume if something is "legal", then it is safe. Unfortunately it seems that cannibal use does appear to cause mental health issues and if it was legalised it might see a lot more use and thus more harmful effects. Obviously tobacco and alcohol also cause medical issues, we know that - but there is a difference between the evident physical harm these cause and the "invisible" mental issues caused by dope that are much harder to diagnose and treat.
 

DaleCooper

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The main problem has nothing to do with doctors or the medical profession, it is the use of antibiotics in agriculture (especially in the US cattle industry).

You may well be correct but the important point is that all drugs have their dangers as well as benefits.

I suppose I could change my original post to "the veterinary medical profession"
 

Blamethrower

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I actually went to the REAL 420 on the 20th April at 4.20 in Vancouver (complete coincidence) and it was all a bit "meh" to be honest.

Everyone gets together for an hour before 420 at the art museum, smoke a load of joints, pipes and bongs, then there's some guy on a mic going "yeah free the weed man" and then the coppers come along at 420 and say "come on now you lot, you've had your fun, now **** off".

That is essentially it. In BC, weed is decriminalised, you can get it everywhere, so smoking it on the street is not a big deal for them or the coppers.

In the UK, it's completely pointless. I think about 3 people turned up the the Coventry one last year.

As someone who partakes now and again, there is absolutely no way that I would want to be associated with such a movement whilst it is illegal. I agree with everything the movement says but whilst I have a respectable job, I will not associate myself with them.

But please, the question was about 420, not about the pitfalls/merits/etc of drugs as it seems a few on here don't have any first hand experience of them. No point in throwing "facts" at each other because drugs affect different people in different ways.

Legal drugs which destroy me for example are Tramadol and Diclofenac.
 

DaleCooper

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As someone who partakes now and again, there is absolutely no way that I would want to be associated with such a movement whilst it is illegal. I agree with everything the movement says but whilst I have a respectable job, I will not associate myself with them.

That is exactly the attitude that prevents any progress being made, most of the politicians who are against decriminalisation have probably smoked a joint or dropped a tab sometime in their youth, they just won't admit it. I freely admit to having smoked dope and taken LSD when young as did almost everyone I knew, I'm now a healthy and respectable(ish) 61 year old.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Some years ago, I heard two University students from West Yorkshire discussing Temazepan on the train and where it could found and another one of their group, obviously with a good sense of humour, suggested in his best West Yorkshire accent....
"On top of t' Christmas Cake"...:D
 

NSEFAN

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Jonny said:
Apparently, it's from 4/20 - the American 'spelling' for 20th April - which also happens to be the anniversary of several other things, including a certain dictator's birthday ;)
Really? I always thought the name came from the old nursery rhyme where 4 and 20 blackbirds got baked!
 
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