I love cumbria

[Sir Niall of Essex-sire]

UK: Drugs survey – legalise and crack down on dealers


North West Evening Mail

Thursday 17 Dec 2009

THREE out of five people believe cannabis should be legalised. That is just one of the findings of the Evening Mail’s online drug survey, part of our week-long investigation into illegal drug use in South Cumbria.
Organised to coincide with National Drug Week, we asked readers to tell us how drug misuse should be dealt with. NEIL SANDERS reports.

DRUGS should be legalised to crack down on dealers. That is just one of the suggestions to come from the Evening Mail’s online drug survey.

Three out of five people who filled in our survey believe cannabis should be legalised in a bid to crack down on dealers.

One in five believe the same should be done with heroin, cocaine and ecstasy.

Participants were asked how they thought the drug problem in Britain should be dealt with.

As well as stricter punishments for possession and more searches in nightclubs, many people thought that the way to stop drug abuse was to legalise them and follow the example of countries such as the Netherlands.

One person said: “By making drugs legal the government can tax and regulate them. This would take the drugs out the hands of the dealers. You could also combine this with education to prevent misuse.”

The survey, which has been running since last week, was undertaken to investigate our readers’ reactions to illegal drugs sold in the area. Hundreds of people voiced their opinions on a variety of drug-related questions.

Heroin was shown to be the biggest problem drug in Cumbria, with 58 per cent of participants believing it is being used in their area, just ahead of cocaine with 56 per cent.

But others believe illegal drugs are not the problem, and said alcohol and alcohol related violence are much bigger concerns in the community.

One respondent said: “Alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous than many ‘illegal’ drugs. People who have problems with these legal drugs cost the NHS millions of pounds each year.”

Families were targeted as the main group that should be responsible for reducing the misuse of drugs, with the government and police coming second and third respectively.

[artymac]

got a bit of a fright there sir, when i saw "I love cumbria" i thought some ramblers had wandered into the furom by mistake!
Very well found, or is that the local paper! But more power to them, trying to engage in some proper debate. I'm just afraid that as usual wise words will end up binned in this country, instead of realising that the present system creates far more problems than it solves. Who knows though, if enough of us keep raising the subject we may at least get a national hearing....and then they'll just ignore us again

[Sir Niall of Essex-sire]

got a bit of a fright there sir, when i saw "I love cumbria" i thought some ramblers had wandered into the furom by mistake!
Very well found, or is that the local paper! But more power to them, trying to engage in some proper debate. I'm just afraid that as usual wise words will end up binned in this country, instead of realising that the present system creates far more problems than it solves. Who knows though, if enough of us keep raising the subject we may at least get a national hearing....and then they'll just ignore us again

Local paper man, shows the general view in society being ignored by the ruling powers well i think

[davidw]

got a bit of a fright there sir, when i saw "I love cumbria" i thought some ramblers had wandered into the furom by mistake!

Actually I can think of nothing better than pitching camp over looking a lake and enjoying a warm fire, marshmallows, hot choc and good conversations...... oh and the munches

[Sir Niall of Essex-sire]

Derwent water fit your needs?

[artymac]

Now that's a view you have there Because of the nature of having a toke over here, it isn't often i have a smoke outside. But quality scenery is always welcome for me when i'm smoking, be it sitting up the dam, or, relaxing in a coffeeshop, sitting in the dam.

[davidw]

Derwent water fit your needs?

yeah......... that reminds me of where I grew up (more accurately spent my weeks when growing up)

mind you in those days I wasn't actively enjoying the delights of the plant