Cannabis decriminalisation should be debated by Scottish Parliament.
The Issue
The petition organiser:
Max Cruickshank, youth worker / health education worker, with 50 years experience of drug misuse in young people.
Max has delivered 4,000 health workshops, he twice won UK Health education awards for his work on alcohol and drug education for young people. He is the author of Fags booze drugs + children, available directly from him.
Background Scottish drugs misuse.
Research tells us that the existing strict drug enforcement laws, have had no effect on reducing the harm from illicit drugs - the law needs reformed. A recent Sun newspaper poll found that 71% of the public want these laws reformed.
David Cameron our PM has responded, complacently, saying the laws are working fine and that the government will not be changing them.
The Scottish Parliament does not have the powers to change the UK drug laws, but it can form a view on them by holding a debate.
This petition seeks to establish if the Scottish public would vote YES or NO to decriminalising cannabis only, at this point in time. 52% of public and 75% of MP’s want the law changed.
Before signing this petition PLEASE consider the basic facts below.
Cannabis is currently a class ‘B’ drug. (Was class’C’ )
This means it is dangerous if not used safely and with sufficient knowledge and caution.
Cannabis is a Hallucinogenic drug.
Hallucinogens alter our perception of reality. They are neither stimulants (tobacco & Cocaine) nor depressants (alcohol and heroin). When under the influence of a hallucinogen we may laugh at things that are not funny, may think we are driving slow, when going fast. We may be in our own dream world, detached from what is going on around us, so using machinery, looking after children or others is not safe.
The effect of Cannabis on our minds.
Our brains are not fully wired up until our early twenties, with males developing later than females. Using any mind altering substance can affect the developing brain. Anyone with emotional or mental health problems are strongly advised not to use hallucinogenic drugs, as they can make these problem worse.
Quality of Cannabis.
Like all illicit drugs, sold by untrained unlicensed dealers or over the internet, there are no controls at all on the strength or the quality of Cannabis. THC is the main chemical in cannabis that gives the user the hallucinogenic effects they seek. Cannabis today can vary in strength from almost no THC to very rarely, containing 8 -10%. Myths about good dealers and good strong cannabis, are just that, a MYTH.
Using Cannabis safely.
Most cannabis users smoke it with tobacco, this is the most dangerous way to use it. Tobacco is highly addictive and contains up to 4,000 additional chemicals such as tar, cyanide and cancer inducing substances.
Our government refuses to provide the public with advice on how to use cannabis more safely, e.g. without tobacco, It does tell us how to inject heroin or consume alcohol safely?
Other facts to consider:
In every society some form of drug taking exists.
Cannabis is our most commonly used illicit drug.
About a million Scot’s have used cannabis and it is estimated that around 500,000 still use it regularly.
Cannabis is not addictive.
Only an extract from part of the cannabis plant has medical uses, it is prescribed only very occasionally. Street cannabis is not a reliable source of pain relief.
Cannabis use is going down, especially amongst the young, as the quality is uncertain and the young are turning to other much more dangerous substances, such as the ‘legal high’s’. We know almost nothing about these ever changing substances.
There is no conclusive evidence that cannabis is a gateway drug causing people to move on to other more dangerous drugs. Although some children learn to smoke tobacco to use it.
The responsibility of government should be to do all it can to minimise the harm that any individual can come to from using their drugs of choice. They should also provide the best care they can for anyone suffering from the effects of drug use.
Drug use or misuse by the public is a health problem and not a criminal justice problem.
Reasons for legalising Cannabis.
It would be produced and sold only by strictly licensed growers and retailers, so the public would know exactly what the strength and quality of the drug is.
If it were legalised, the government would need to provide advice to the public on how to use cannabis more safely.
The illicit, uncontrolled, illegal drug dealers would be put out of business, saving the government, millions in police, court s, prisons and NHS costs.
Tax from cannabis could be used for research, public education and recovery services for anyone harmed by cannabis.
The public would start to trust the government’s advice on the dangers of other substances they use.
The age at which it is deemed safe to use cannabis, could be specified in law, giving the public a better understanding of its dangers for the young.
Some people may chose to no longer use cannabis once they understood the dangers of using it whilst driving, working with machinery or looking after children and others.
The harm to our mental health could be reduced saving NHS funds.
Thousands of people would not have criminal records for possessing or using small amounts of cannabis.
Reasons against legalising cannabis.
Children are not adults, so their mental and physical development can be damaged.
Current drugs education does not adequately inform the public about all of the facts about cannabis.
Legalising cannabis may turn younger users off using it, It would no longer be seen as a rebellious thing to do, so they may turn to other more dangerous drugs, such as alcohol, cocaine or legal high’s.
It would be very difficult to prevent people under the age of 21 from using cannabis. Only a law that made it illegal to posses or use cannabis before 21 could solve this.
Individuals who are not aware that they have emotional or mental health problems will try to use cannabis to self-medicate, rather than seek professional or medical help with their problems.
Younger people may be attracted to using the higher strength varieties, with the potential to do most harm.
A small number individuals will develop, or worsen their mental health problems by using cannabis.
The government may misuse the tax income from cannabis, for non-health prevention purposes.
Those involved in organised crime, Illicit drug dealers, the alcohol and tobacco industry would promote even harder their alternatives more dangerous drugs if losing their profits.
PLEASE NOW CAST YOU VOTE stating that you are either voting YES OR NO for the Scottish parliament to debate this important public health issue.
Petition Closed
The Issue
The petition organiser:
Max Cruickshank, youth worker / health education worker, with 50 years experience of drug misuse in young people.
Max has delivered 4,000 health workshops, he twice won UK Health education awards for his work on alcohol and drug education for young people. He is the author of Fags booze drugs + children, available directly from him.
Background Scottish drugs misuse.
Research tells us that the existing strict drug enforcement laws, have had no effect on reducing the harm from illicit drugs - the law needs reformed. A recent Sun newspaper poll found that 71% of the public want these laws reformed.
David Cameron our PM has responded, complacently, saying the laws are working fine and that the government will not be changing them.
The Scottish Parliament does not have the powers to change the UK drug laws, but it can form a view on them by holding a debate.
This petition seeks to establish if the Scottish public would vote YES or NO to decriminalising cannabis only, at this point in time. 52% of public and 75% of MP’s want the law changed.
Before signing this petition PLEASE consider the basic facts below.
Cannabis is currently a class ‘B’ drug. (Was class’C’ )
This means it is dangerous if not used safely and with sufficient knowledge and caution.
Cannabis is a Hallucinogenic drug.
Hallucinogens alter our perception of reality. They are neither stimulants (tobacco & Cocaine) nor depressants (alcohol and heroin). When under the influence of a hallucinogen we may laugh at things that are not funny, may think we are driving slow, when going fast. We may be in our own dream world, detached from what is going on around us, so using machinery, looking after children or others is not safe.
The effect of Cannabis on our minds.
Our brains are not fully wired up until our early twenties, with males developing later than females. Using any mind altering substance can affect the developing brain. Anyone with emotional or mental health problems are strongly advised not to use hallucinogenic drugs, as they can make these problem worse.
Quality of Cannabis.
Like all illicit drugs, sold by untrained unlicensed dealers or over the internet, there are no controls at all on the strength or the quality of Cannabis. THC is the main chemical in cannabis that gives the user the hallucinogenic effects they seek. Cannabis today can vary in strength from almost no THC to very rarely, containing 8 -10%. Myths about good dealers and good strong cannabis, are just that, a MYTH.
Using Cannabis safely.
Most cannabis users smoke it with tobacco, this is the most dangerous way to use it. Tobacco is highly addictive and contains up to 4,000 additional chemicals such as tar, cyanide and cancer inducing substances.
Our government refuses to provide the public with advice on how to use cannabis more safely, e.g. without tobacco, It does tell us how to inject heroin or consume alcohol safely?
Other facts to consider:
In every society some form of drug taking exists.
Cannabis is our most commonly used illicit drug.
About a million Scot’s have used cannabis and it is estimated that around 500,000 still use it regularly.
Cannabis is not addictive.
Only an extract from part of the cannabis plant has medical uses, it is prescribed only very occasionally. Street cannabis is not a reliable source of pain relief.
Cannabis use is going down, especially amongst the young, as the quality is uncertain and the young are turning to other much more dangerous substances, such as the ‘legal high’s’. We know almost nothing about these ever changing substances.
There is no conclusive evidence that cannabis is a gateway drug causing people to move on to other more dangerous drugs. Although some children learn to smoke tobacco to use it.
The responsibility of government should be to do all it can to minimise the harm that any individual can come to from using their drugs of choice. They should also provide the best care they can for anyone suffering from the effects of drug use.
Drug use or misuse by the public is a health problem and not a criminal justice problem.
Reasons for legalising Cannabis.
It would be produced and sold only by strictly licensed growers and retailers, so the public would know exactly what the strength and quality of the drug is.
If it were legalised, the government would need to provide advice to the public on how to use cannabis more safely.
The illicit, uncontrolled, illegal drug dealers would be put out of business, saving the government, millions in police, court s, prisons and NHS costs.
Tax from cannabis could be used for research, public education and recovery services for anyone harmed by cannabis.
The public would start to trust the government’s advice on the dangers of other substances they use.
The age at which it is deemed safe to use cannabis, could be specified in law, giving the public a better understanding of its dangers for the young.
Some people may chose to no longer use cannabis once they understood the dangers of using it whilst driving, working with machinery or looking after children and others.
The harm to our mental health could be reduced saving NHS funds.
Thousands of people would not have criminal records for possessing or using small amounts of cannabis.
Reasons against legalising cannabis.
Children are not adults, so their mental and physical development can be damaged.
Current drugs education does not adequately inform the public about all of the facts about cannabis.
Legalising cannabis may turn younger users off using it, It would no longer be seen as a rebellious thing to do, so they may turn to other more dangerous drugs, such as alcohol, cocaine or legal high’s.
It would be very difficult to prevent people under the age of 21 from using cannabis. Only a law that made it illegal to posses or use cannabis before 21 could solve this.
Individuals who are not aware that they have emotional or mental health problems will try to use cannabis to self-medicate, rather than seek professional or medical help with their problems.
Younger people may be attracted to using the higher strength varieties, with the potential to do most harm.
A small number individuals will develop, or worsen their mental health problems by using cannabis.
The government may misuse the tax income from cannabis, for non-health prevention purposes.
Those involved in organised crime, Illicit drug dealers, the alcohol and tobacco industry would promote even harder their alternatives more dangerous drugs if losing their profits.
PLEASE NOW CAST YOU VOTE stating that you are either voting YES OR NO for the Scottish parliament to debate this important public health issue.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 9 November 2014