King Hazza,
That about sums up the true situation.

King Hazza all true, but normal Aussies go there,have fun, no sex no drugs.
Tourist feed by creating jobs, we must look at others views but not except them all.
In an existing thread,had crackup cared to look he could have found some FACTS.
The kid was a user before he went.
He bought it there at least twice.
And bragged about it.
GEE the BL&^DY PM and Rudd have helped him.
Do we declare war?
Please, let us all get our heads out of the sand.
Yes you can buy drugs, on every corner.
Yes police take bribes set people up, and protect the sellers.
How many of us? come tell me? do not understand the Gold coast and Kings Cross do it the same.
Drug use world wide is supported and sponsored by POLICE and those in power.

I've got a simple question, which should be simply answered, presumably:

what precisely is the harm that you presume cannabis causes?

As a 48-year-old man who has smoked cannabis [mostly]on and reluctantly off [when it was unavailable within my friendship circle] since I was 16, running my own business since 2005, I'm sincerely interested in your views on the damage thay I have suffered due to cannabis. Is there any? What is its precise nature?

Anyone?

Antiseptic:
If people wish to smoke Marijuana then it is a matter of individual choice, as long as each one is prepared to accept the penalty levied if apprehended.

At this time the laws of the land declare it illegal to grow, distribute or use Cannabis Sativa (a proscribed dangerous drug),so to use it is contrary to the laws of society! I personally can see nothing wrong with sensible use, however like all drugs overuse is self abuse and may create a problem depending again upon the individual.

I myself gave away cigarettes 20 odd years ago and my drug of choice now is Rum and Coke, which I have gradually reduced in amount of consumption due in part to the exhorbitant cost....but nobody NEEDS to drink, as nobody NEEDS to smoke, again an individual choice!

No doubt in time to come we will see the liberalisation of the laws and Cannabis will become legal in certain amounts, after all the Government will recognise the opportunity to tax it and make millions in the process!

Is there any? What is its precise nature?
Antseptic,
that's a bit like smoking. Some chaps have smoked since 14 & still going strong at 85. Another keels over at 40. Cannabis is probably not physically damaging but it does harm the thinking mechanism but again, there are exceptions. I know users who are off their trolley after a beer & a smoke whereas others just get a little happy. Grog sends some totally ape$hit & others just get jolly. What king Hazza said is just so true & many are simply looking for blame & excuses rather than attempt a little self-control & think only of how they affect others. Reminds me of the dad who got severely aggravated when I told his kid to stop tearing around between our BBQ tables. I made it clear to him that WE have to live with the consequences of his upbringing of his kid & not he. He simply couldn't see.

King Hazza
Nobody is arguing that Australians who put on their worst behaviour in Bali and who disrespect the laws of that country are blameless. In fact they show little courtesy to their host nation as the large number of hoony tourists to Bali continue to remind.

However, this case involves a 14 year old who while clearly breaking the law should be dealt with as a juvenile, not an adult. While not condoning the action of the boy there is little done via the judiciary to abate these aggressive street hawkers. Uphold the law but why are the pushers not punished in the same way as Western drug users. Is it because they are white people. From my experience of travels to various parts of the world, I have observed racism does not work in only one direction.

That is the double standard, but unless you have experienced it I imagine it is difficult to view racism as other than a Western phenomenon. It is not.