cannabisnews.com: The £6.6bn Illegal Trade 





The £6.6bn Illegal Trade 
Posted by FoM on February 08, 2002 at 22:19:36 PT
Statistics on Cannabis in The UK
Source: Guardian Unlimited
· In the British Crime Survey 2000 cannabis was the most commonly used drug. · More than 3m people spend a total of more than £6.6bn a year on illegal drugs, according to Home Office figures. · Cannabis smokers spend an average of £498 a year. 
· Home Office figures suggest that there are 3.1m occasional smokers of cannabis in Britain. · Of the 9.5m people aged 16 to 29 in England and Wales at least 2.3m would have used a prohibited drug in the last year. · Between 30% and 40% of 15 and 16-year-olds report using cannabis, according to the charity Drugscope. · A survey of 20,000 British youngsters last year found that one in nine 16-year-old boys who admitted using drugs said they did so every day. · Britain has the toughest drug laws in the whole of Europe and has one of the highest levels of users. · In Amsterdam, where cannabis is decriminalised, 55% of people who say they have tried cannabis only end up using it a couple of dozen times or less. · In the Brixton pilot study 450 warnings were issued in 2001 compared with 324 arrests in 2000. · 1,350 hours of police time were saved. This is equivalent to the borough receiving 1.8 extra full-time officers. · Arrests for dealing cannabis increased by 11%. Special Report: Drugs in Britain -- http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/0,2759,178206,00.htmlSource: Guardian Unlimited, The (UK)Published: Saturday, February 9, 2002Copyright: 2002 Guardian Newspapers LimitedContact: letters guardian.co.ukWebsite: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Related Articles & Web Site:Drugscopehttp://www.drugscope.org.uk/Met Plan To Extend Softly, Softly Drug Scheme http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11957.shtmlThreat of Police Revolt Over Cannabis Policy http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11956.shtml
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Comment #10 posted by freedom fighter on February 09, 2002 at 13:47:22 PT
Joyce
is strictly a hit and run artist. She would not answer my simple question, if I plant a seed in my basement, am I a terrorist or am supporting the terrorism? But no, everything has to be in her way. We suggest Joyce to accept that people will do drugs and to realize that it is the Prohibition that support the terrorism. ff
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on February 09, 2002 at 12:11:27 PT
Elfman_420 
I agree. I really would like to talk with Joyce. I have talked to her in email a few times. Drugs are the issue to prohibitionists and people that do drugs are my concern and many here I'm sure. We want Peace in the drug war and help for those who reach out for help. Some people no matter how hard anyone tries will self destruct no matter if it's drugs or alcohol. We should never base any laws on the extremes. I've lost a relative to a Heroin overdose and I am not angry and I don't want to lock up other Heroin users because of it. We must remove ourselves from our own feelings and look at the big picture and we are doing just that here on this web site I think. 
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Comment #8 posted by Elfman_420 on February 09, 2002 at 12:03:41 PT
Joyce has quite the history
I don't know why I haven't seen her name before, but Joyce has had quite the history here! I just searched her name on the search tool.Joyce, if you are out there, we all welcome you to respond as we don't have many people on the other side of the fense to discuss the issues with in here! As long as both sides play nice, of course =)
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Comment #7 posted by Elfman_420 on February 09, 2002 at 11:59:13 PT
Joyce's O'reilly response
Wow, I'm sorry, but has anybody made this connection yet?http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/11/thread11949.shtmlLook who wrote "Bill's Drug-War Field Goal"This article was just yesterday.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on February 09, 2002 at 11:34:41 PT
Joyce
I meant to say welcome back. I know you have been here before. I hope you will talk to us. Please be nice. We are. I have found that sarcastic words only inflame and aren't constructive. If we want answers to the drug problem we need to start being civil to one another. I hope you respond. We really aren't evil people. 
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Comment #5 posted by SpaceCat on February 09, 2002 at 09:55:43 PT
You ARE still here!
Hello Joyce, I was just wondering if you still checked in. I like you because I enjoy over-the-top rhetoric of all kinds. I wonder if we both want the same thing- and end to the damage caused by drugs (or their legal status, depending on your viewpoint) or if there are other agendas at work. It's disappointing but predictable that you would take up the drugs=terror line, your impact would be improved by avoiding easily disprovable positions and outdated, discredited, research.If our goals are the same, how can the truth, palatable or unpalatable, be our enemy? Surely you must acknowledge that the reason drugs are profitable is because they are prohibited. If your position is that drug money supports terrorists, isn't the logical conclusion that the quickest and easiest way to break the connection is to end prohibition? Since this would also break the back of any domestic criminal organization involved in the drug trade, (as the end of alcohol prohibition did)and drastically diminish the crime and violence associated with an unregulated market, how do you maintain the mutually exclusive arguments that drug money supports terrorists but the price supports for that money must remain in place? Too often I see the bully in anti-drug campaigners. It doesn't matter who the target is, as long as they are vulnerable. Your generally hectoring tone does little to dissuade this opinion. Much as I am disgusted by those who hang flags out their window and shout their patriotism from the rooftops, yet can't be bothered to learn flag etiquette, such as taking the flag down at sunset or lighting it at night, I am disturbed by rhetoric that wraps itself in the flag to disguise bluster and oppression as patriotism. Dissipation of the American spirit is far more dangerous than any drug could ever be, and that's what happens when American ideals are used as cover for good old discrimination.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on February 09, 2002 at 08:52:13 PT
Joyce
Welcome to Cannabis News. I want to say something. We are not druggies. We don't think jail is the answer though. Addiction to hard drugs or alcohol is very hard to stop and I can't see how putting a strung out person in a prison cell will help them recover their life. Addicts need love and support and a you can make it attitude not fear. Please understand that even though we want drug laws changed none of us believe that hard drug use is beneficial in any way shape or form so in that respect we are on the same side.
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Comment #3 posted by lookinside on February 09, 2002 at 08:14:46 PT:
Joyce Nalepka
I'm assuming that you mean legalization of ALL drugs is the only answer?
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Comment #2 posted by Joyce Nalepka on February 09, 2002 at 07:35:02 PT:
The 6.6bn Illegal Trade
The International terrorists must be delighted with all the money Brits are pouring into their coffers when they buy their illegal drugs.
We suggest users be encouraged to explore life without being stoned or zonked out of their minds.Terrorists oneday will happily do a 9/11 on your country!
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Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on February 08, 2002 at 23:25:22 PT
A thrifty lot, we
· More than 3m people spend a total of more than £6.6bn a year on illegal drugs, according to Home Office figures. · Cannabis smokers spend an average of £498 a year. How much do British police officers spend on alcohol per year?That would be an interesting figure to have at hand.
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