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The Saker
A bird's eye view of the vineyard

offsite link Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz
Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb

offsite link The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker
Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog.? We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below).?

offsite link What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker
by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are

offsite link Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader
2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of

offsite link The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker
Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by

The Saker >>

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Human Rights in Ireland
Promoting Human Rights in Ireland

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link The Ginger Rogers Theory of Information Wed Dec 25, 2024 18:00 | Sallust
In the Daily Sceptic, Sallust draws our attention to the 'gynogenic climate change' hypothesis: that is is women who are principally to blame for global warming.
The post The Ginger Rogers Theory of Information appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Some Laws Relating to Speech Are Surprisingly Uplifting Wed Dec 25, 2024 16:00 | James Alexander
Politics professor James Alexander has compiled a compendium of amusing laws ? Murphy's Law, Parkinson's Law and Cole's Law (thinly sliced cabbage) ? to give you a break from making polite conversation with your relatives.
The post Some Laws Relating to Speech Are Surprisingly Uplifting appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Warm Keir Starmer Just Looked Out? Wed Dec 25, 2024 11:00 | Henry Goodall
'Warm King Starmer just looked out, On the feast of Reeves, then...' Read Henry Goodall's version of 'Good King Winceslas' updated for Starmer's Britain, exclusive to the Daily Sceptic.
The post Warm Keir Starmer Just Looked Out… appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Declined: Chapter One Wed Dec 25, 2024 09:00 | M. Zermansky
Introducing Declined: a dystopian satire about the emergence of a social credit system in the U.K. that's going to be published in serial?form?in?the Daily Sceptic. Read episode one here.
The post Declined: Chapter One appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link The Lobbyists Behind the Climate and Nature Bill Wed Dec 25, 2024 07:00 | Charlotte Gill
The Climate and Nature Bill threatens to decimate the UK economy by turbo-charging Net Zero. But where did it come from? Charlotte Gill dives in and finds a glut of Left-wing activists working furiously behind the scenes.
The post The Lobbyists Behind the Climate and Nature Bill appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Cannabis: Whats the harm?

category international | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis author Friday February 04, 2011 01:01author by Ronoc Report this post to the editors

I have watched the recent BBC3 documentary about Cannabis consumption in the UK. There's interviews with people who say they are addicted and then people who are not, and in the latest episode, it was about drug smuggling and illegal immigrants who work in the house where the weed is grown. The customs manage to stop alot of weed getting into the UK but its only a fraction, and the money involved is quite alot. Its shows all the negative sides of the illegal trade and trys to make smokers feel guilty.
But I wonder if it was legal how much money could be made from this crop and how much crime would be cut...

So lots of people smoke weed or hash and only very few are addicted. Its less harmful than tobacco or alcohol but its illegal. If it was legal it could be taxed, it would cut out the work of the police (so they could attend to serious crimes and also saving money), it would cut out profits for illegal gangs and there would be less violence on the streets. People tend to call it a gate way drug but from my experience alcohol and tobacco are the gateway drugs.
In our time when we are in the midst of an EU/IMF bailout, why are we not considering serious alternatives to raise tax? People are using it no matter if its illegal or legal. If it was legal we would actually save money (police, prisons and so on) whilst gaining tax from it.

Below is a funny but interesting video...

Related Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XUWnxc6-GA
author by DTpublication date Thu Feb 10, 2011 17:05author address author phone Report this post to the editors

ordinary citizen, using the term 'drugs' is nonsensical. You cannot lump cannabis and heroin into the same category. The arguments for legalising cannabis are more legitimate than for other, more serious drugs. However, it would be extremely problematic unless it was a trans-europe legalisation. the scope for abuse of people in the trade would only be heightened by our legalising it unless other countries did the same.

author by pop starpublication date Tue Feb 08, 2011 17:02author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Most well known singers would be cool on this issue, maybe a few of them would be willing to go public with support for you? Bono and Geldoff seem to have plenty to say on most issues why not write to them and see how mouthy they really are? How about Liam Neeson or Gabriiel Byrne and definitely Colin Farrell should be contacted and asked if they will sign your petition and back your campaign.

author by flash gordonpublication date Mon Feb 07, 2011 22:11author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Why dont you ask all the independent candidates where they stand on this issue? They are all looking for votes and if enough people email them and annoy them on facebook they will know that there are a lot of potential votes to be got by not remaining silent ant longer. You could also try the mainstream parties like labour greens and sinn fein but it would probably be a waste of time in their case. Joe Higgins would be worth a try though and Richard Boyd Barrett etc have nothing to lose and many votes to gain!

author by ordinary citizenpublication date Fri Feb 04, 2011 19:16author address author phone Report this post to the editors

it has been estimated that $44 billion could be made on taxing drugs in the US and the war on drugs is costing them $33billion
thats a $77 billion readjustment
when one country starts taxing weed the floodgates will open and there will be no going back as it becomes blatantly clear how much revenue can be raised this way on top of the savings made on incarceration and the whole judicial process.
The Bill in California a few months ago got 46% yes with all politicians saying no and the wording being vague and open to attack from conservatives.
there is a 2% increase annually in its legalization over there which means we have four years to wait but by then Palin or some other Republican could be in who will block the power of a state to apply its own laws in this matter as Obama is doing.
the next referendum is in 2 years in Denver, i cannot find the date but have a feeling it may be held at same time as next congressional/presidential election which again could mean its demise if a Republican gets into the White House
i think we should have two referendums here one for medical use and the other for full legalizing and taxation
i feel the first should pass but the second may require some work, especially to motivate the voter base.
if the California legalization referendum had been held in 2008 it may have passed as a large liberal vote came out and voted for Obama whereas the Tea Partyers/ Fox News/ Glenn Beck whipped up enough anger in mostly stupid white people in the last election to win back one pillar of government over there. The recession hitting hard left a lot of 2008 voters apathetic and not fired up enough vote.
the same could happen here if lets say another Abortion ref was held the same day. In such a scenario i could still see the medical use passing but would not be so confident in passing full legaisation.
Ming has a good chance of being elected and could be in a Jackie Healy Rae scenario in the future, ideally with a combination of Left Wing Parties who are more inclined to be open to such an idea. The referendum idea could be an option open to him to allow other policies of his be implemented as would be the possible case with a Left Alliance.
alternatively it could just be legalized in Europe. Countries like Portugal have decriminalised small quantities of everything and seen a 50% drop in HIV in Heroin addicts. they did this for monetary reasons as has Mexico and are not going back to the old ways as they have seen it works. so our side is growing and this concept may soon the the most popular throughout Europe and thus be brought to us without us having to do anything.
the reason i would like to see it legalised is because this would allow hemp be grown more easily. it absorbs 4 times the carbon of trees. it is being used in building breathable houses good for asthma sufferers now but could replace concrete in all our homes if the cannabis laws were relaxed, not to mention its being the strongest natural fiber in the world. i have a ten year old hemp coat in great condition. its root goes 5metres down and is a great starter crop especially in desert areas on top of not needing any herbicides as it is a weed that blocks out competing crops. it is for these reasons that cannabis may have been made illegal in the US in the 1930s using logic that would be laughed at if tried in the modern age.
ref. "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" Jack Herer www.jackherer.com

 
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