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In the UK we have a load of drugs, which just skirt the law by roaming into the realm of “legal highs.” Normally these drugs are untested, unlicensed, and potentially lethal, but because they’re not “controlled substances” they’re in a legal grey area. Now a new one, “Annihilation” is apparently putting people in hospital. Should they be banned?
Often these drugs are sold as “herbal,” which can basically mean anything. Annihilation, for instance, is made from a synthetic form of cannabis and causes increased heart rate, paranoia and aggression, which sounds totally awesome to me. Why anyone would take it I have no idea.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m of the mind you can stick whatever you like into your body as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else, but these “legal highs” are thought of as safe because they’re not banned, and, frankly, that’s not true. Hell, you’d be better off taking heroine or cocaine from the point of view of well documented biochemical and psychological evidence as to what they actually do to you — not that I’d recommend taking either, mind you.
So what do you think? Should we just get on and ban them? Or should it be up to the user to determine if they’re safe — bugger off Nanny-state we know what we’re doing? [Metro]
Image credit: Drugs from Shutterstock
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More importantly should the majority of illegal Highs Really Be illegal?
The government has to ban each an everyone of these “Legal Highs” directly (which takes time) because if they banned them by content or effect they would end up banning the “Legal Highs” of Alcohol and Cigarettes, which they cant afford to do.
am with you on the bit about do what you want as long as it doesn’t harm anybody as well
I think you have to be wary of anything new, as you cant really trust the seller to be honest with you
Not had the urge to do illegal drugs, nor felt the need for them,
but its where the use goes from want to need is where it all goes pear shaped.
I have messed up side affects from my legal drugs, so don’t think i could trust any sort of illegal drug or the people who supply it, its not like its covered by the sales of good act lol
All drugs should be legal. The only reason we have these dangerous “legal highs” coming around all the time is because other safter substances get banned. Would any of them be sold if, for instance, ecstacy (a tried and tested, comparatively safe drug) was still legal? Probably not.
Exactly my thought. Seeing headlines like “Legal Synthetic Cannabis Kills Teenagers”*, the blindingly obvious solution is… legalise regular cannabis!
*not a real headline, just summing up the stories
I have a friend who had quite serious problems after becoming dependent on ol’ Mandy. Whilst it is “comparatively safe”, I don’t think it should be legal.
Cannabis on the other hand…
and yet ol’ Mandy was illegal when he became dependant – so any argument for it being illegal is moot!
That’s quite true, but I believe that it being illegal stops more people ending up the same.
It also stops people getting the help they need since their addiction problem could land them in jail. Believe all you want but actual science from places like Holland, Germany and Portugal completely disagree with your belief.
Th Uk and other countries may i ad have a prehistoric view towards drugs.
People are always going to want to shake of the everyday stresses of life, its human nature. Some people chose to take drugs some drink some read a book.
We should be looking at education and preventative measures to drug harm.
You tell someone they cant have something and it makes it more exciting and fun and ultimately makes them want it more.
People will always find a way to get what they want and legal so called drugs give them that option without the fear of being criminalised or perpetrated as a “druggie” Because they enjoy the occasional recreational experience.
Everything in moderation!
….or as i prefer – “Everything in moderation, including moderation” : )
Exactly – it’s all escapism, whatever blend you choose: books, films music, love, drugs etc all change our perceptions of the world – it’s a very fascist concept to say that you have to remain as close to a standard perception of reality as possible – and not leave it. If we are consuming and adding to society in other areas of our lives, then IMHO it is no-ones right to tell anyone that they can’t do it. The problems occur when more susceptible people become detrimentally affected and those effects begin spreading to others that help should be available.
Would it be harsh to bring up natural selection at this point?
There is a very serious conversation that the western world needs to have about drugs. Our prohibition of psychoactive substances is not informed by relevant scientific, rational judgements. Statistical data about these substances should be explored with an open mind and critical eye so that society can produce rational solutions to the problems of the drug trade, addiction and substance abuse, as well as opening up the possibility that in some instances these substances may also be beneficial.
Talking about an annihilation is not the way to open up said dialogue.
When talking about an unregistered, untested drug for which there is no data and which has only been in use for a short period of time, the reaction the reaction alarmist, knee-jerk idiocy.
I have seen few rational debates on drugs in the past few years, this was one of them: http://iai.tv/video/drug-culture It’s great to see three sane individuals actually deflecting the usual complaints from the right (Peter Hitchens in this case) in a manner which comes across well.
You know what they say, if alcoholic drinks were invented today, it would be banned. Especially after seeing the level of damage it does to society.
The only high you need to experience once in your life is acid. I’ve yet to take that life affirming trip though.
But thanks for your informed opinion all the same.
My opinion is as informed as it can be without actually experiencing it first hand. You can have an opinion on murderers without murdering someone, etc. etc.
But not an informed one.
Unless you’ve been murdered.
Look up the definitions for the word ‘informed’.
That is all.
“soverign rights to do whatever the f**k you want with your own body, as long as you’re not hurting anyone else”
a law so obvious it takes real anti-brains to keep it off the statute books
I have taken Annihilation several times. Some experiences were downright unpleasant, others were pretty mind-blowing spiritual experiences. The thing with Annihilation and these other legal highs is they are very, very strong. Roll a joint with it and you want 0.05g at the most. Two to three tokes and you’re set, any more and you get extreme paranoia, start vomiting, and generally feel like you’re going to die.
The problem is, people buy these things and don’t really know how to use them properly and responsibly. In the same way as alcohol, it’s fine if you have a little, then you have a nice time but have too much and things get ugly.
Banning things doesn’t help anything, people need to be taught to use drugs responsibly. I can guarantee that all the people who were hospitalised after taking annihilation had effectively overdosed on it.
People should be able to put what they want in their bodies, but they should use common sense and research what they’re taking before they do.