Proposal - reform laws on cannabis

[jez9999]

Yeah maybe, themodernist. Although the Lib Dems keep pushing this way, at least for decriminalizing possession of soft drugs anyway, which I really like about them. It''d be nice if this became a PPUK policy when we get more popular and have people listening to us, and we can actually get to have the time to explain to people that soft drugs aren't the evil boogeyman that the idiotic conservatives (with a small 'c') make them out to be (http://www.game-point.net/misc/drug.png).

[BigCol]

this should be in the manifsto!!!!!!

I think it should be legally available to people who need it. When I say people who need it, I mean, people who have cancer or other deseases and it is prescribed to them through thier GP. Otherwise, I think the drug should not be legalised other than for medical purposes, and I think if the Pirate party went down this road, the party would not be taken seriously

[jez9999]

Not be taken seriously..... by the brainwashed and the ignorant convervatives who don't want to listen to reason. There may be no hope for the latter, but if the former can be educated on this issue, they may just realise that it isn't necessarily a dealbreaker policy and is, in fact, much more sensible than the current way we deal with soft drugs.

[noTHINGface]

Have to agree with some of the views here, we should stay away from these types of issues to be taken seriously...

[jez9999]

I object to the use of the term 'taken seriously'. Sorry, but is there something farcical about reforming out antiquated drugs laws? Fair enough to say that we shouldn't take a stance on it (yet) to avoid losing votes, but don't imply that drug law reform is not a serious, legitimate issue.

[themodernist]

Jez
I agree that it is an issue that needs taking seriously and should at least be decriminalised but I believe that can only happen once the over 65's (as a generation), are dead and buried so a while yet !!

[reynish]

I'd be happy for the party to align itself with Transform.

It's not like we'll be running the country anytime soon. Why not make some noise about other issues?

Is there anyone who doesn't agree with Transform?

[Grunchtherunch]

i think the party should do what I'm sure the majority stand for and not be afraid the address issues full on whether the other parties seriously consider it or not, it's not about their views it's about the public views, and the good thing about this party is that due to the type of people that are interested in this party we will most likely always have reason and straight forward truth on our side, which means we can't be intimidated by other parties with awkward questions. we need to introduce the honest politician into the equation,just answer simply with what the partys views are and be damned with the people who try to criticize us in the public eye with scare tactics, the public will see right through it and the one thing they will notice is that we can answer tough questions and the others can't. because we have no reason to hide our views.

whether this is an issue that the majority believe in is another matter i for one do believe in it's legalization, it is safer than smoking tobacco. and as long as laws are put in place to ensure people can't be stupid and excess then it would be fine. but above anything else i don't think we should be afraid to answer tough questions.

[cookie]

I have joined this site to find out more about the pirateparty because I agree with its core values, however if they support things such as legalising drugs then it is clear that this is nothing more than abit of a joke. Please do not consider this as it will turn most people of the party

[dbt1984]

I have joined this site to find out more about the pirateparty because I agree with its core values, however if they support things such as legalising drugs then it is clear that this is nothing more than abit of a joke. Please do not consider this as it will turn most people of the party

Drug laws are no joke my fellow pirate. Ask one of the thousands in jail around the world, just for using basically a herb!

[LeeW79]

A joke to who cookie? .. a joke to the uninformed peoples, lots of respectfull people smoke or have smoked it, do you also think alcohol should be abolished?

Im not saying cannabis should be legalised, although i see little reason why it shouldnt, especially considering that alcohol is legal, however it needs to be decriminalised at the very least, getting a criminal record that sticks for life for carrying less than 2 grams of hash is hardly fair.

[WilliamFS]

I have joined this site to find out more about the pirateparty because I agree with its core values, however if they support things such as legalising drugs then it is clear that this is nothing more than abit of a joke. Please do not consider this as it will turn most people of the party

Thank you! And here you go, everyone! If proof was needed, there it is.

This talk of drugs is already potentially alienating people -- not because it is not a serious issue or an issue that arguably deserves to be debated -- but simply because that is not what people turn to the PPUK for. I'll say it once again: if this was the PDLPUK (Pirate and Drug Legalisation Party UK) it would not generate even a fraction of the interest that the PPUK does with its core issues alone. And that is the case, no matter how flagrantly wrong the current situation regarding drugs legalisation seems to you.

Please focus. Let us not damadge our political project.
---

[rancidpunk]

Look after your old bones, ahaar!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edi ... 199007.stm

Seriously though, even if we haven't got a policy on this, hearing peoples opinions on this and any other subject is what the forum is all about. If it pisses of people who take offence on an almost professional level then so much the better.

[themodernist]

I have joined this site to find out more about the pirateparty because I agree with its core values, however if they support things such as legalising drugs then it is clear that this is nothing more than abit of a joke. Please do not consider this as it will turn most people of the party

Thank you! And here you go, everyone! If proof was needed, there it is.

This talk of drugs is already potentially alienating people -- not because it is not a serious issue or an issue that arguably deserves to be debated -- but simply because that is not what people turn to the PPUK for. I'll say it once again: if this was the PDLPUK (Pirate and Drug Legalisation Party UK) it would not generate even a fraction of the interest that the PPUK does with its core issues alone. And that is the case, no matter how flagrantly wrong the current situation regarding drugs legalisation seems to you.

Please focus. Let us not damadge our political project.
---

agreed.
under current political conditions legalising cannabis is a red herring.
Privacy, Education, Corruption are much more likely to create interest.

[dbt1984]

You might be wrong there williamfs, currently an estimated 8 million cannabis user's in the UK. Thats a hell of a lot of potential extra votes.

[rancidpunk]

I have joined this site to find out more about the pirateparty because I agree with its core values, however if they support things such as legalising drugs then it is clear that this is nothing more than abit of a joke. Please do not consider this as it will turn most people of the party

Thank you! And here you go, everyone! If proof was needed, there it is.

This talk of drugs is already potentially alienating people -- not because it is not a serious issue or an issue that arguably deserves to be debated -- but simply because that is not what people turn to the PPUK for. I'll say it once again: if this was the PDLPUK (Pirate and Drug Legalisation Party UK) it would not generate even a fraction of the interest that the PPUK does with its core issues alone. And that is the case, no matter how flagrantly wrong the current situation regarding drugs legalisation seems to you.

Please focus. Let us not damadge our political project.
---

One opinion is not proof of anything.

[WilliamFS]

You might be wrong there williamfs, currently an estimated 8 million cannabis user's in the UK. Thats a hell of a lot of potential extra votes.

Combining Cause A with Cause B would not simply add together supporters of A and B.

Cause A+B is not the same as:
'All those in favour of A and all those in favour of B', that is, every member of set A plus every member of set B.

Cause A+B is:
All those in favour of A and B, ie, a subset of A that also belongs to be or of B that also belongs to A

See diagram

[dbt1984]

Hence the word potential

[jez9999]

williamfs, that assumes that anyone who disagrees with either policy will not support the PPUK, the most pessimmistic possible scenario. In reality, you might keep the number of supports the same because some pro-cannabis will sign up, and some anti-cannabis won't, and many will remain members even if they disagree with it (and many will agree with it).

[mattd]

Just to add my 2p, totally 100% catagorically against PPUK going down the legalisation route. Stick to the well known, well stated core principles and keep the message focused.