I put 'headshops ashford' into Google and got this.....
Grasscity
Now Head shops as the link shows are supposedly shops that sell specialist hydroponic eguipment for home cultivators.
Everybody knows what they are cultivating, the site gives all the clues.
At least you have to work for the rewards, I have always wondered how they get away with it?
I had seen this PLACE mentioned on local TV and that was what I was looking for.
On the same page on Google and every other day on the news articles like THIS
On what grounds can these places be legal?
Nobody can sell foodstuff without rigorous tests and legislation to cover its origins etc.etc.
They label this sh*te as "Not for human consumption" and sell it to p*ssed up teens dressed for a night out.
Why can't they frame a Law to get around these travesty?
How do they get away with it ????
Legal Highs?
Legal Highs?
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
-
Oscar Namechange
- Posts: 31840
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
Legal Highs?
Bruv;1444679 wrote: I put 'headshops ashford' into Google and got this.....
Grasscity
Now Head shops as the link shows are supposedly shops that sell specialist hydroponic eguipment for home cultivators.
Everybody knows what they are cultivating, the site gives all the clues.
At least you have to work for the rewards, I have always wondered how they get away with it?
I had seen this PLACE mentioned on local TV and that was what I was looking for.
On the same page on Google and every other day on the news articles like THIS
On what grounds can these places be legal?
Nobody can sell foodstuff without rigorous tests and legislation to cover its origins etc.etc.
They label this sh*te as "Not for human consumption" and sell it to p*ssed up teens dressed for a night out.
Why can't they frame a Law to get around these travesty?
How do they get away with it ????
They get away with It because the substances used In legal highs are often of organic nature but more Importantly, are not covered by ' The Misuse of Drugs Act' and there-fore legal to process and use,.You simply can't arrest and prosecute anyone for mixing plant food as an example. But, they could not be sold as ' Medicine' as that would be Illegal.
Often when an Illegal highs starts killing people, they simply find a new one.
The people who manufacture Illegal Highs know the law... they are often sold as Plant food and list the Ingrediants... then the onus Is really on the person buying and taking them.
You may find this Informative:
From mephedrone to Benzo Fury: the new 'legal highs' | Society | The Guardian
Grasscity
Now Head shops as the link shows are supposedly shops that sell specialist hydroponic eguipment for home cultivators.
Everybody knows what they are cultivating, the site gives all the clues.
At least you have to work for the rewards, I have always wondered how they get away with it?
I had seen this PLACE mentioned on local TV and that was what I was looking for.
On the same page on Google and every other day on the news articles like THIS
On what grounds can these places be legal?
Nobody can sell foodstuff without rigorous tests and legislation to cover its origins etc.etc.
They label this sh*te as "Not for human consumption" and sell it to p*ssed up teens dressed for a night out.
Why can't they frame a Law to get around these travesty?
How do they get away with it ????
They get away with It because the substances used In legal highs are often of organic nature but more Importantly, are not covered by ' The Misuse of Drugs Act' and there-fore legal to process and use,.You simply can't arrest and prosecute anyone for mixing plant food as an example. But, they could not be sold as ' Medicine' as that would be Illegal.
Often when an Illegal highs starts killing people, they simply find a new one.
The people who manufacture Illegal Highs know the law... they are often sold as Plant food and list the Ingrediants... then the onus Is really on the person buying and taking them.
You may find this Informative:
From mephedrone to Benzo Fury: the new 'legal highs' | Society | The Guardian
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Legal Highs?
I am sure the shop owners are clever and legal, isn't the job of the Government to frame Laws to protect those amongst uswho need protection?
Everybody knows what the purpose of these substances are, selling them on the High st to youngsters is the crime, maybe a Policeman outside every shop to harrass them is the answer, whatever it is that needs to be done should be done quickly.
Everybody knows what the purpose of these substances are, selling them on the High st to youngsters is the crime, maybe a Policeman outside every shop to harrass them is the answer, whatever it is that needs to be done should be done quickly.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
-
Oscar Namechange
- Posts: 31840
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
Legal Highs?
Bruv;1444698 wrote: I am sure the shop owners are clever and legal, isn't the job of the Government to frame Laws to protect those amongst uswho need protection?
Everybody knows what the purpose of these substances are, selling them on the High st to youngsters is the crime, maybe a Policeman outside every shop to harrass them is the answer, whatever it is that needs to be done should be done quickly.
Unfortunately, In life, where stupidity Is rife, a few will prosper.
If you tweaked the laws, you run the chance of ruining the business's of those who manufacture plant food etc for It's genuine purpose.
What's needed, Is education, education, education.
If people saw the side affects and risk of dying from the stuff, their abstinence would eventually see the manufacturers out of business.
But then, how many people die of binge drinking? What we going to do ? Put Plod outside every Offy ? You can't change laws to cover stupidity but you can educate.
Everybody knows what the purpose of these substances are, selling them on the High st to youngsters is the crime, maybe a Policeman outside every shop to harrass them is the answer, whatever it is that needs to be done should be done quickly.
Unfortunately, In life, where stupidity Is rife, a few will prosper.
If you tweaked the laws, you run the chance of ruining the business's of those who manufacture plant food etc for It's genuine purpose.
What's needed, Is education, education, education.
If people saw the side affects and risk of dying from the stuff, their abstinence would eventually see the manufacturers out of business.
But then, how many people die of binge drinking? What we going to do ? Put Plod outside every Offy ? You can't change laws to cover stupidity but you can educate.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Legal Highs?
What happened to Kamala Harris' campaign?
She had the black vote all locked up.
She had the black vote all locked up.
Legal Highs?
So......you can't sell glue to under 18's without ID, can't sell kiddies toy gun caps or the bomby things kids enjoy throwing at the floor.......if they are not accompanied by an adult.
But you can 'pretend' to sell fertiliser to drunken teens......as long as it's got Not for consumption written bold on it ?
Somethings wrong with the world.
But you can 'pretend' to sell fertiliser to drunken teens......as long as it's got Not for consumption written bold on it ?
Somethings wrong with the world.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
-
Oscar Namechange
- Posts: 31840
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
Legal Highs?
Bruv;1444728 wrote: So......you can't sell glue to under 18's without ID, can't sell kiddies toy gun caps or the bomby things kids enjoy throwing at the floor.......if they are not accompanied by an adult.
But you can 'pretend' to sell fertiliser to drunken teens......as long as it's got Not for consumption written bold on it ?
Somethings wrong with the world. You have a good point and It Is being addressed... or was.
Ministers are risking a clash with Brussels after the UK decided to oppose a European Union attempt to regulate potentially deadly “legal highs.
Norman Baker, the Home Office minister, said that the European Commission’s proposals would “fetter the UK’s discretion to control new psychoactive substances.
He said that he “strongly disputes claims by the EU that 20 per cent of new so-called “legal highs have a “legitimate use.
Mr Baker has previously said that EU law-makers are not able to cope with the “fast moving scene around the mind-altering substances being sold on the internet.
The UK could face sanctions over the attempt to take control of policy on legal highs.
UK will defy EU over legal high laws, Home Office says - Telegraph
But you can 'pretend' to sell fertiliser to drunken teens......as long as it's got Not for consumption written bold on it ?
Somethings wrong with the world. You have a good point and It Is being addressed... or was.
Ministers are risking a clash with Brussels after the UK decided to oppose a European Union attempt to regulate potentially deadly “legal highs.
Norman Baker, the Home Office minister, said that the European Commission’s proposals would “fetter the UK’s discretion to control new psychoactive substances.
He said that he “strongly disputes claims by the EU that 20 per cent of new so-called “legal highs have a “legitimate use.
Mr Baker has previously said that EU law-makers are not able to cope with the “fast moving scene around the mind-altering substances being sold on the internet.
The UK could face sanctions over the attempt to take control of policy on legal highs.
UK will defy EU over legal high laws, Home Office says - Telegraph
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Legal Highs?
20% what has 20% got to do with anything ?
100% of heroin has a legitimate use as do many of the illegal drugs in use 'on the street' .
Red Diesel has a legitimate use, but they at least attempt to police that.
I just can't get my head around how such things as Big Rizlas,and hydroponics can be sold side by side and as long as they are labeled 'legally' they can't touch em.......testes!!!!
I am not opposed to the personal use of cannabis grown at home or not, I don't oppose the loosening of the strict laws governing their use, I oppose the hypocrisy of this utter nonsense.
100% of heroin has a legitimate use as do many of the illegal drugs in use 'on the street' .
Red Diesel has a legitimate use, but they at least attempt to police that.
I just can't get my head around how such things as Big Rizlas,and hydroponics can be sold side by side and as long as they are labeled 'legally' they can't touch em.......testes!!!!
I am not opposed to the personal use of cannabis grown at home or not, I don't oppose the loosening of the strict laws governing their use, I oppose the hypocrisy of this utter nonsense.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
-
Oscar Namechange
- Posts: 31840
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
Legal Highs?
Bruv;1444743 wrote: 20% what has 20% got to do with anything ?
100% of heroin has a legitimate use as do many of the illegal drugs in use 'on the street' .
Red Diesel has a legitimate use, but they at least attempt to police that.
I just can't get my head around how such things as Big Rizlas,and hydroponics can be sold side by side and as long as they are labeled 'legally' they can't touch em.......testes!!!!
I am not opposed to the personal use of cannabis grown at home or not, I don't oppose the loosening of the strict laws governing their use, I oppose the hypocrisy of this utter nonsense.
The problem Is this..
Take Heroin... That has a medicinal use... thus to misuse It Is breaking the law under The Misuse of Drugs Act.
Legal Highs are legitimate properties often combined with each other to Increase the high. So as fast as they could ban one Illegal high, the manufacturer would simply adjust the Ingrediants to produce another.
Those Ingrediants on their own have a legitimate purpose.. ie plant food... If you banned those Ingrediants, other Industries would collapse.
Last year 80 people died from using Illegal highs... In proportion to alcohol and smoking related deaths, It's not exactly pandemic.
100% of heroin has a legitimate use as do many of the illegal drugs in use 'on the street' .
Red Diesel has a legitimate use, but they at least attempt to police that.
I just can't get my head around how such things as Big Rizlas,and hydroponics can be sold side by side and as long as they are labeled 'legally' they can't touch em.......testes!!!!
I am not opposed to the personal use of cannabis grown at home or not, I don't oppose the loosening of the strict laws governing their use, I oppose the hypocrisy of this utter nonsense.
The problem Is this..
Take Heroin... That has a medicinal use... thus to misuse It Is breaking the law under The Misuse of Drugs Act.
Legal Highs are legitimate properties often combined with each other to Increase the high. So as fast as they could ban one Illegal high, the manufacturer would simply adjust the Ingrediants to produce another.
Those Ingrediants on their own have a legitimate purpose.. ie plant food... If you banned those Ingrediants, other Industries would collapse.
Last year 80 people died from using Illegal highs... In proportion to alcohol and smoking related deaths, It's not exactly pandemic.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Legal Highs?
oscar;1444745 wrote:
Last year 80 people died from using Illegal highs... In proportion to alcohol and smoking related deaths, It's not exactly pandemic.
How many the year before and the year before that ?
Last year 80 people died from using Illegal highs... In proportion to alcohol and smoking related deaths, It's not exactly pandemic.
How many the year before and the year before that ?
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
-
Oscar Namechange
- Posts: 31840
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
Legal Highs?
Bruv;1444752 wrote: How many the year before and the year before that ? If my memory serves me correctly, 80 deaths last year was a 50& Increase on the previous year. So I get your point entirely.
Here's another trend:
Mixing vodka and Red Bull can be deadly, warn experts | Mail Online
So what now? Ban alcohol or ban Red Bull ? Or both?
You see the problem?
Same with Illegal highs..eating plant food would kill you In large enough doses but trace elements mixed with other legitimate substances Is what produces the high.
What would you suggest then to tackle the problem?
What I would suggest Is In the first Instance, education In death rates and side effects In schools. Followed by prosecution for manslaughter should an autopsy show that Illegal High was the sole cause of death.
Here's another trend:
Mixing vodka and Red Bull can be deadly, warn experts | Mail Online
So what now? Ban alcohol or ban Red Bull ? Or both?
You see the problem?
Same with Illegal highs..eating plant food would kill you In large enough doses but trace elements mixed with other legitimate substances Is what produces the high.
What would you suggest then to tackle the problem?
What I would suggest Is In the first Instance, education In death rates and side effects In schools. Followed by prosecution for manslaughter should an autopsy show that Illegal High was the sole cause of death.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
-
Oscar Namechange
- Posts: 31840
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
Legal Highs?
tude dog;1444711 wrote:
That's very very naughty.
That's very very naughty.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Legal Highs?
oscar;1444756 wrote: If my memory serves me correctly, 80 deaths last year was a 50& Increase on the previous year. So I get your point entirely.
Here's another trend:
Mixing vodka and Red Bull can be deadly, warn experts | Mail Online
So what now? Ban alcohol or ban Red Bull ? Or both?
You see the problem?
Same with Illegal highs..eating plant food would kill you In large enough doses but trace elements mixed with other legitimate substances Is what produces the high.
What would you suggest then to tackle the problem?
What I would suggest Is In the first Instance, education In death rates and side effects In schools. Followed by prosecution for manslaughter should an autopsy show that Illegal High was the sole cause of death.
So.......it's getting worse.......out of control is it ?
You cannot control what people mix together and pour down their throats in the privacy of their own homes, but there is legislation to control harmful, especially possile lethal ready made pharmacuticals and foodstuffs.
You don't normally buy fertiliser in small pocket size boxes with names alluding to hard drugs. There are laws of sale that talk of "Fit for purpose" how can rainbow boxes of fertiliser be "Fit for purpose"? What purpose ?
Surely the government should have as equally smart arse legislators as the legal high companies to combat this, how can a back street operation outwit the good guys?
Here's another trend:
Mixing vodka and Red Bull can be deadly, warn experts | Mail Online
So what now? Ban alcohol or ban Red Bull ? Or both?
You see the problem?
Same with Illegal highs..eating plant food would kill you In large enough doses but trace elements mixed with other legitimate substances Is what produces the high.
What would you suggest then to tackle the problem?
What I would suggest Is In the first Instance, education In death rates and side effects In schools. Followed by prosecution for manslaughter should an autopsy show that Illegal High was the sole cause of death.
So.......it's getting worse.......out of control is it ?
You cannot control what people mix together and pour down their throats in the privacy of their own homes, but there is legislation to control harmful, especially possile lethal ready made pharmacuticals and foodstuffs.
You don't normally buy fertiliser in small pocket size boxes with names alluding to hard drugs. There are laws of sale that talk of "Fit for purpose" how can rainbow boxes of fertiliser be "Fit for purpose"? What purpose ?
Surely the government should have as equally smart arse legislators as the legal high companies to combat this, how can a back street operation outwit the good guys?
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
-
Oscar Namechange
- Posts: 31840
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
Legal Highs?
Bruv;1444859 wrote: So.......it's getting worse.......out of control is it ?
You cannot control what people mix together and pour down their throats in the privacy of their own homes, but there is legislation to control harmful, especially possile lethal ready made pharmacuticals and foodstuffs.
You don't normally buy fertiliser in small pocket size boxes with names alluding to hard drugs. There are laws of sale that talk of "Fit for purpose" how can rainbow boxes of fertiliser be "Fit for purpose"? What purpose ?
Surely the government should have as equally smart arse legislators as the legal high companies to combat this, how can a back street operation outwit the good guys?
I wouldn't call 80 deaths a year ' out of control'
You may find this Interesting
Make legal highs available for sale, government urged | Society | The Guardian
You cannot control what people mix together and pour down their throats in the privacy of their own homes, but there is legislation to control harmful, especially possile lethal ready made pharmacuticals and foodstuffs.
You don't normally buy fertiliser in small pocket size boxes with names alluding to hard drugs. There are laws of sale that talk of "Fit for purpose" how can rainbow boxes of fertiliser be "Fit for purpose"? What purpose ?
Surely the government should have as equally smart arse legislators as the legal high companies to combat this, how can a back street operation outwit the good guys?
I wouldn't call 80 deaths a year ' out of control'
You may find this Interesting
Make legal highs available for sale, government urged | Society | The Guardian
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Legal Highs?
oscar;1444863 wrote: I wouldn't call 80 deaths a year ' out of control'
You may find this Interesting
Make legal highs available for sale, government urged | Society | The Guardian
Doubling yearly ?
I refer you to your own quoted articles comment.
The least harmful new "legal highs" should be made readily available for sale under strictly regulated conditions rather than being immediately banned as happens now, according to a cross-party group of peers.
That's what I want, bring it under the normal terms of sales agreements safety whatever you call it, and stop pretending they can't find an answer.
You may find this Interesting
Make legal highs available for sale, government urged | Society | The Guardian
Doubling yearly ?
I refer you to your own quoted articles comment.
The least harmful new "legal highs" should be made readily available for sale under strictly regulated conditions rather than being immediately banned as happens now, according to a cross-party group of peers.
That's what I want, bring it under the normal terms of sales agreements safety whatever you call it, and stop pretending they can't find an answer.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
-
Oscar Namechange
- Posts: 31840
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
Legal Highs?
Bruv;1444866 wrote: Doubling yearly ?
I refer you to your own quoted articles comment.
That's what I want, bring it under the normal terms of sales agreements safety whatever you call it, and stop pretending they can't find an answer.
They find It difficult to find an answer because, as I said before, once one legal high starts killing people, the manufacturers tweak the Ingrediants and creat another.,
If ' safe ' legal highs were accepted, sorry but you'll always have the morons who want to Increase the high and will continue to see something more potent.
Same with the Vodka... not happy with the high from Vodka, they add Red Bull to highten the effect and that's what some teenagers will continue to do because they are stupid and you can't criminalise stupidity. It's a bit like the kids who play chicken on the railway lines... what do you do ? Ban railway lines?
I refer you to your own quoted articles comment.
That's what I want, bring it under the normal terms of sales agreements safety whatever you call it, and stop pretending they can't find an answer.
They find It difficult to find an answer because, as I said before, once one legal high starts killing people, the manufacturers tweak the Ingrediants and creat another.,
If ' safe ' legal highs were accepted, sorry but you'll always have the morons who want to Increase the high and will continue to see something more potent.
Same with the Vodka... not happy with the high from Vodka, they add Red Bull to highten the effect and that's what some teenagers will continue to do because they are stupid and you can't criminalise stupidity. It's a bit like the kids who play chicken on the railway lines... what do you do ? Ban railway lines?
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Legal Highs?
oscar;1444869 wrote: They find It difficult to find an answer because, as I said before, once one legal high starts killing people, the manufacturers tweak the Ingrediants and creat another.,
If ' safe ' legal highs were accepted, sorry but you'll always have the morons who want to Increase the high and will continue to see something more potent.
Same with the Vodka... not happy with the high from Vodka, they add Red Bull to highten the effect and that's what some teenagers will continue to do because they are stupid and you can't criminalise stupidity. It's a bit like the kids who play chicken on the railway lines... what do you do ? Ban railway lines?
If you introduce a new soft drink it has to be able to pass health tests.
If a public house sells stuff illegally it gets closed down.
Just pull those two ideas together.
You cannot sell 'Health' products without clearance of some kind.....can you? I am expecting you can't I wouldn't know. You can't sell horse meat and call it beef lasagna......legally without a public outcry. How can you sell these untested potentially lethal concoctions.......just by pointing at the "Legal" statement on the label while standing behind a smart arse legal team.
It is a blatant wrong that shouldn't test a half decent group of intelligent politicians.
If ' safe ' legal highs were accepted, sorry but you'll always have the morons who want to Increase the high and will continue to see something more potent.
Same with the Vodka... not happy with the high from Vodka, they add Red Bull to highten the effect and that's what some teenagers will continue to do because they are stupid and you can't criminalise stupidity. It's a bit like the kids who play chicken on the railway lines... what do you do ? Ban railway lines?
If you introduce a new soft drink it has to be able to pass health tests.
If a public house sells stuff illegally it gets closed down.
Just pull those two ideas together.
You cannot sell 'Health' products without clearance of some kind.....can you? I am expecting you can't I wouldn't know. You can't sell horse meat and call it beef lasagna......legally without a public outcry. How can you sell these untested potentially lethal concoctions.......just by pointing at the "Legal" statement on the label while standing behind a smart arse legal team.
It is a blatant wrong that shouldn't test a half decent group of intelligent politicians.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
-
Oscar Namechange
- Posts: 31840
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
Legal Highs?
Bruv;1444871 wrote: If you introduce a new soft drink it has to be able to pass health tests.
If a public house sells stuff illegally it gets closed down.
Just pull those two ideas together.
You cannot sell 'Health' products without clearance of some kind.....can you? I am expecting you can't I wouldn't know. You can't sell horse meat and call it beef lasagna......legally without a public outcry. How can you sell these untested potentially lethal concoctions.......just by pointing at the "Legal" statement on the label while standing behind a smart arse legal team.
It is a blatant wrong that shouldn't test a half decent group of intelligent politicians. Many manufacturers actually advertise their legal high as ' Not for human consumption' so then you're dealing with stupidity.
Neil McKeganey: ‘Legal’ highs a low point - The Scotsman
If a public house sells stuff illegally it gets closed down.
Just pull those two ideas together.
You cannot sell 'Health' products without clearance of some kind.....can you? I am expecting you can't I wouldn't know. You can't sell horse meat and call it beef lasagna......legally without a public outcry. How can you sell these untested potentially lethal concoctions.......just by pointing at the "Legal" statement on the label while standing behind a smart arse legal team.
It is a blatant wrong that shouldn't test a half decent group of intelligent politicians. Many manufacturers actually advertise their legal high as ' Not for human consumption' so then you're dealing with stupidity.
Neil McKeganey: ‘Legal’ highs a low point - The Scotsman
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Legal Highs?
And so at last I get the final word in an exchange with Oscar Namechange.......a ban has now been passed as law.........Legal highs ban comes into force across the UK
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Legal Highs?
Not before time either. So irresponsible allowing free rein with this 'natural' drug. I must say that I was horrified knowing that young people were able to get this stuff so easily and legally ! At last all the bad publicity has woken the government up and galvanised them into doing something sensible !!! It isn't a case of spoiling youngsters' fun, but trying to keep them alive ! (although I doubt the youngsters would understand that or approve !)
I'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
Legal Highs?
There was a late TV program last night about a shop and it's clients and how they made the stuff.
They were not all young, but they were all sad.
They were not all young, but they were all sad.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Legal Highs?
I do take the point, though, about it simply being driven underground. As with any recreational drugs, the last thing the dealers want to see is it being legalised, as that will dramatically reduce their profit margins. The opportunity to cut the drugs with other dangerous crap would be clamped down on.
Obviously there are different levels of recreational drugs. The best known, of course, probably being cannabis, and I would imagine that there are quite a few members of this forum who would openly admit to having used, or are still using it. It is known to be less harmful than tobacco or alcohol, it has been proven to have medicinal benefits, yet it (to date) remains illegal (or, at best, decriminalised) - although there are moves to allow certain licenced pharmacies to distribute it. The point is that when it becomes legitimate, the market price falls, plus it tends to lose its appeal, as the element of risk of being caught is no longer there.
Would criminalising it stop anyone who uses it stop doing so? I very much doubt it - although it will make it more costly to do so. Would more people start using it? Most probably. It would make more people all the more curious about why they banned the stuff & incite them to try it for themselves.
As the example given in the article pointed out, Prohibition had quite the opposite effect. It not only increased the sale of low grade alcohol in speakeasies, but it increased the number of people who went to them who wouldn't have considered going to a bar previously. Furthermore, the level of alcoholism shot up.
I'm not a user of these 'Legal Highs'. I never have been, nor ever would be. I have used & enjoyed my own grown cannabis in the past, and I never became a raging addict. I'm neither pro nor anti banning them. I can just see that there are 2 most valid sides to the case.
Obviously there are different levels of recreational drugs. The best known, of course, probably being cannabis, and I would imagine that there are quite a few members of this forum who would openly admit to having used, or are still using it. It is known to be less harmful than tobacco or alcohol, it has been proven to have medicinal benefits, yet it (to date) remains illegal (or, at best, decriminalised) - although there are moves to allow certain licenced pharmacies to distribute it. The point is that when it becomes legitimate, the market price falls, plus it tends to lose its appeal, as the element of risk of being caught is no longer there.
Would criminalising it stop anyone who uses it stop doing so? I very much doubt it - although it will make it more costly to do so. Would more people start using it? Most probably. It would make more people all the more curious about why they banned the stuff & incite them to try it for themselves.
As the example given in the article pointed out, Prohibition had quite the opposite effect. It not only increased the sale of low grade alcohol in speakeasies, but it increased the number of people who went to them who wouldn't have considered going to a bar previously. Furthermore, the level of alcoholism shot up.
I'm not a user of these 'Legal Highs'. I never have been, nor ever would be. I have used & enjoyed my own grown cannabis in the past, and I never became a raging addict. I'm neither pro nor anti banning them. I can just see that there are 2 most valid sides to the case.