philips, I have no idea who or what you are but your debating style is as rank as a three week old dead fish which has been discarded in the gutter.

I suggest before you demand anything of me, ask yourself, is your debating style likely to achieve your desired objectives or is it likely to see you vilified?

That you seem to be defending criminals is your choice. Such a choice talks to your ethics and lack thereof.

Comparing the dangers of marijuana to the dangers of excessive alcohol in no way to excuse or diminishes the dangers of marijuana.

I see, regularly the detrimental effects of excessive alcohol and excessive marijuana, particularly in combination.

I am thankful neither of my daughters (nor myself) chose such a path and I am prepared to take some small credit for that.

Friends of mine, going back 35 years have died from illegal drugs.

I posted the article here which described a girl in her mid twenties, a debilitated schizophrenic since 15 following excessive marijuana use and now to be incarcerated for the next 25 years because she is too damaged and dangerous to be free. Whilst still alive, Her “Life” is over. Her victim was someone who did not deserve to die at his young age, his life is likewise over.

I know how it has destroyed her parents lives, as well as her own.

Her ingestions of “The drug we are talking about is "MARIJUANA" caused that damage.

To alcohol, I have regularly imbided since the age of around 18 and even produced my own alcohol, to great delight and am a reformed smoker.

Unlike you, despite my irregularly use of alcohol, I can still string both a sentence and reasoned argument together.

And I smoked marijuana on three occasions, the first two times with no effect, the third was an experience I found neither pleasurable nor something I have ever sought to repeat. So if I am a bit ‘slow’ blame it on those three tries.

US “I think you are blaming drugs for people's actions.”

I blame the actions of Rhea Penrose (the girl in the article) on her drug use, Yes – so do her parents as so to the experts and the judge in her murder case.

Apart form that, I blame the rise in drug use on the exploitation of the gullible by the drug dealers.

Beyond that, I see no comment by me blaming the user for anything.

“What I find in your zero tolerance attitude to drugs, is naivity.”

That must be the first time anyone has accused me of naivety.

You are right I do endorse peoples’ right of choice. I have never suggested possession for own use should be a criminal offence, distinct from possession with intent to distribute or profit.

That someone should damage themselves through the ingestion of narcotics is up to them. Don’t ask me to accept responsibility for them but do expect me to protect my property from their irresponsible and often failed attempts to rob me of what is mine.

My view, a chronic drug-induced psychotic is nothing more than effluent but that is an outcome of their choice. They are ultimately the victim and their abuser is the drug dealer.

“There's a better case for McDonalds to be illegal and reprehensible than marijuana.”

Then you force legislation through to make McDonalds illegal and I will stop eating Big Mac’s.

Until then, I will munch on Macca’s whenever I want.

Re CJ “Just say you don't agree with Col.”

Actually I am not sure he was saying that, he could have been talking about Philips.

Foxy – quoting dearest Margaret, at least exposure to my posts have elevated you in that respect.

I guess as someone who did know, during his too short a life I will leave my quote to Jim Morrison

“Drugs are a bet with your mind.”

I guess if you win, your mind loses

O sung wu thanks for your support. However, “death from marijuana” occurs with diminished reasoning, psychosis and well before the bodies expires.

Once again, I want to Thank all of you for
your input.

I've said what I wanted to say about bringing
Schapelle Corby home.

I'm not going to take part in the drug debate
that is currently taking place on this thread.
Someone could start a separate thread on
that topic.

My intention was not to discuss drugs, or Schapelle's
guilt or innocence. But simply to raise the issue
of bringing her home.

I feel that's been done.

Again, I appreciate all of your input.

Poor old Col........ he gets thoroughly out debated and is now reduced to calling people abusive names.

I've been on many forums over the years, and quite a few of them usually have at least one person who habitually uses personal abuse when things don't go their way.

Col is obviously one such abuser. Most of them are males, and their abusive natures are a sign of weakness and is probably why these individuals tend to abuse on the internet, instead of being men and attempting it face to face.

When one is reduced to calling people "scumbag", then the plot and all rational thought is lost.

Get help Col.

Phillips,

I wouldn't say that Col is often abusive. Definately not any more abusive than what he receives. Anyway, if I were you I would look to your own Misandry later in your comments.

Col,

'distinct from possession with intent to distribute or profit.'
But they are providing a service just like anyone else who fulfils a need in society. Do you have the same opinion of sex workers?

'Apart form that, I blame the rise in drug use on the exploitation of the gullible by the drug dealers.
'
See that's what I don't understand. To buy drugs, one must seek out a drug dealer, and it's really not that easy. I know many people who have trouble finding a supplier for their indulgences. Dealers are FOUND through word of mouth and recomendations from like minded people. Identifying the possibly like minded people is tricky. It's interesting that I don't think you'd have the same opinion of Beer companies' advertising, which is blatantly pushing something.

'from their irresponsible and often failed attempts to rob me of what is mine.
'
Obviously that's your experience with some drug users. But the naivity I am talking about is your apparent ignorance of the many many drug users who hold positions of responsibility and lead otherwise healthy lives. Many Lawyer and Doctors, IT personal that I know with families and who pay tax and are loving responsible people also do drugs.

As I said if this is a fringe activity that overwhelmingly produces addicts stealing to support their habbits, where is the damage to correspond to the massive quantities often found by the police?

'My view, a chronic drug-induced psychotic is nothing more than effluent but that is an outcome of their choice. They are ultimately the victim and their abuser is the drug dealer.
'
I find this a bit contradictory. If it's your own choice, you are a victim of nobody in my book. I also don't judge other people's choices as I have a different frame of reference. People generally act logically to ther own frame of reference.

Philips rather than bother with addressing you as the resident amoeba direct, I will merely concur with US assessment.

But also ponder this.. God may well feel like helping me

As for you, I am sure the devil has a special circle in hell reserved for Neanderthal hypocrites where he plays back your OLO posts to you and you suffer the endless torment from their poor grammar, pointlessness and inane attempts at sarcasm.

US “'distinct from possession with intent to distribute or profit.'
But they are providing a service just like anyone else who fulfils a need in society. Do you have the same opinion of sex workers?”

Good question.

Drug dealers provide a service which is known to be not simply detrimental but debilitating (and I am including marijuana there) to someone health and life expectancy.

STD aside, I have never known of anyone becoming debilitated, let alone have their life expectancy seriously curtailed, through using the services of a sex worker, be it pole dancing or exchange of bodily fluids.

Must admit I do tend to feel the “sex” industry is what I count as a “victimless” activity.

Although I also consider it the worst of trades, taking the highest possible price in terms of personal degradation from both the user and provider in the exchange.

In short, a profoundly sad way of making a living and a worse way of finding physical relief.

Maybe we should start a thread about it?

“Many Lawyer and Doctors, IT personal that I know with families and who pay tax and are loving responsible people also do drugs”

I only hope they never operate on, represent or write programs for me.

More fool them. I do not do drugs, beyond occasional and moderate use of alcohol. My partner used to regularly in her youth and now she regrets it almost daily.

I agree people have a right to choose hence, the emphasis of my “hostility” (as accurate a word as any) is to the dealer / exploiter and not the user.