annon said on 05th April ...

"Personally I would like to see transparent studies into the dfferences between smokers of cannabis and so called `straight' people rather than reactions to headlines! I have known persistant and casual smokers for more than 25yrs of which 2 developed mental illness, which in my eyes(from knowing them for so long) can be traced back to severe childhood abuse(one mental the other physical). Should we not treat these people because they are smokers? Of course not, just as I would treat people with physical illnesses because they ate/drank too much, mental illness deserves treatment, but so does an open study into its causes giving people facts not headlines! After 25yrs I would still rather know a smoker than a drinker even if they need a boot up the backside every so often! "

Anominous said on 05th April ...

"for god sake y cnt ppl see tht cannabis damages your health!!! i no posting this comment is not goin to change those ppls mminds hu do smoke it, so thts y changing the class wat the drug is at isnt goin to make a difference... the onli way 2 get ppl to stop smoking it, is to let them quit thmselves... but it does harm your health... and if ppl hu smoke it dnt care wat itb does 2 u thts there fault!! just dnt burden our nhs wen u get metally ill!!"

Anominous said on 05th April ...

"for god sake y cnt ppl see tht cannabis damages your health!!! i no posting this comment is not goin to change those ppls mminds hu do smoke it, so thts y changing the class wat the drug is at isnt goin to make a difference... the onli way 2 get ppl to stop smoking it, is to let them quit thmselves... but it does harm your health... and if ppl hu smoke it dnt care wat itb does 2 u thts there fault!! just dnt burden our nsh wen u get metally ill!!"

fiona said on 05th April ...

"When are people going to wake up and see the dangers of cannabis. It is a drug .. END OF !!"

Sal said on 04th April ...

"How do you propose we tax it then? Just sell it openly in shops? Can't see it working somehow. "I'll have a half ounce of golden virginia, some blue rizlas and a snuff box of your finest crack-cocaine my good man" Nah, that's ridiculous. So what do people propose - state-sponsored importation of drugs? or state-sponsored vendors similar to the cafes in the Netherlands? Are we even ready for a culture like that. And at the moment, booze is available straight over the counter and look at the number of people stuck on the streets desperate for some money for booze, throw in a whole cavalcade of drugs that can be bought over the counter and its going to be a nightmare There's a bigger reality going on here in terms of drugs and weed is just the crust. Big issues of social malfunction need to be addressed and farting about with classifications and legislations isn't going to do squat"

Russ T said on 03rd April ...

"I've been a cannabis smoker for almost 10 years now and at no time have I ever considered myself a criminal for doing so. I've never hurt anyone or resorted to theft to buy a bit of weed. Hell about the worst thing it's ever caused me to do is waste a whole day playing the Playstation and eating a multipack of crisps. Seriously though I think it's fairly clear to all that the prohibition approach is unworkable and impossible to enforce. Drugs are as widely available now as they ever have been if not even more so. I think it's about time the goverment admit that while there may be some dangers associated with cannabis there are relatively small even when compared to alchohol or tobacco and that it should be treated accordingly and legalised, if only to help going some small way to weakening the power of the dealers and of course if taxed would be an effective stream of revenue."

Liam said on 03rd April ...

"I smoke weed frequently and i am perfectly fine and have no signs of paranoia or any mental problems ,, I think it should stay in class c because the goverment proscribe it to some people but tell the others not to smoke cannabis load of rubbish the just wanna because you dont pay tax on it "

robert said on 03rd April ...

"I smoked weed for over 5 years and even though I have successfully quit for over a year I am a confused paranoid wreck.. stop looking at me!"

Pauline said on 03rd April ...

"I don't think there's any harm in it staying Class C. In my opinion the whole 'gateway drug' theory is nonsense - show me a bunch of stoners who begin to dabble in cocaine and heroin as well, they don't exist! Cannabis is not the same kind of drug, it's more of a relaxant and there is no need to look elsewhere for something stronger! Look at what drinking does to people at weekends, running about the streets shouting and fighting like maniacs, whereas someone having a smoke will just be sitting at home enjoying themselves watching a movie. The risks have to be weighed up by the individual, but I believe that should be there choice, and grading it up to Class B is not going to change anyones perception that cannabis, compared to other drugs, is pretty mild. "

Tinycakes said on 03rd April ...

"It doesn't matter whether it's classified as B, C, D or A. People who like to be stoned will still buy it and smoke it, that includes me. This posturing by Brown is a red herring. Regardless of what the ACMD advises and the course of action the goverment takes the drugs market will still be controlled by organised crime, with all of the negative effects this has on society. There are some people who are not responsible and who abuse drugs, at the moment the rest of society is being punished to protect this minority. Treat the electorate like adults. Legalise all drugs and tax them. This will generate massive revenues, free up prison space, reduce organised crime's power and enable the police to tackle real crime."