I think we can all agree that smoking anything is bad. But cannabis has many other ways of being consumed, especially medically!
2 Likes
Speeding is a civil offence, possession of an illegal drug is a criminal offence.
For a far comparison you would need to use an example that’s a criminal offence that people regularly do - perhaps petty shop lifting?
2 Likes
We’ve needed those for a long time, far too many people with complex MH needs out in the community.
That’s not as widespread as smoking narbis is.
2 Likes
This is utterly and completely wrong. Speeding is a crime, which is why it is dealt with and sentenced in the criminal courts with criminal sanctions. With the state bringing cases against citizens, not one citizen suing another.
There’s not even really such a thing as a ‘civil offence’ that’s a contradiction in terms. A better term would be a civil ‘wrong’, or more accurately, a Tort.
5 Likes
I suspect people are thinking of parking considering that yellow routes were decriminalised in the 1990’s.
Although even that isn’t as clear cut as it sounds.
1 Like
Until there are RCTs into the efficacy or otherwise of the drug it will remain illegal.
1 Like
The old psychiatric hospitals were a dumping ground for people when drug therapies were ineffective or not complied with.
When they started to close those hospitals in the late 80s there were many tragic cases of girls now old women who had spent their whole lives there for the crime of being unmarried and pregnant. Something like the laundry’s scandal in Ireland.
1 Like
Parking fines and the like are actually just contracts at their core. That’s why the signage is so important.
3 Likes
Rather timely British Medical Journal release, of which one of the conclusions is that cannabis use should be avoided by teenagers and young adults (ie our cadets) https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj-2022-072348
2 Likes
American College of Cardiology reported a 30% increase in Coronary Artery disease in cannabis users.
ETA:
1 Like
None of this is controversial, the issue is more that alcohol causes just as many problems for health, criminal justice and social care, yet that’s fine, but cannabis is not. (There’d be a lot less violent crime if smoking a joint was the standard Saturday night out rather than smashing an inordinate amount of Stella.)
3 Likes
It’s when it is combined with cocaine that the problems really start, normal where I live.
1 Like
“Fine” is subjective. Personally I hate our binge-drinking culture in this country and do everything I can to avoid it. Which is why banning alcohol at dining-in nights and other cadet events is a perfectly reasonable requirement.
Again from a personal perspective, I would any expect any CFAV who through drink either embarrasses themselves in a cadet environment, or who causes potential risk of harm to a cadet or other CFAV, to be considered unsuitable for RAFAC service. However, I do know of a sizeable number of CFAVs who, unfortunately, view RAFAC as a glorified drinking club with the addition of some responsibilities for children.
I drank on cadet duty more as a cadet than as staff
2 Likes
As a cadet, we had a ‘staff’ pub and a cadet’s pub in the local village when on annual camp. provided the over 18s were sensible there was generally never a problem.
ETA:
That was 50 years ago.
2 Likes
It’s almost like allowing reasonable use of substances in controlled circumstances has a better impact than restricting it and forcing it underground…
5 Likes
Yet drinking to embarrassment is seen as a requirement for regular service 
1 Like
This is all interesting, but does any of it really justify a blanket policy which means we throw out staff or cadets for something they have done outside the organisation?
Now while staff have a DBS to consider when it comes to volunteering Cadets don’t.
Would a Cadet be thrown out of the organisation with zero consideration for mitigation if they got into a fight in the school playground with a non-cadet? Affray is after all a serious criminal offence.
5 Likes
When I was camp commandant both in the UK and overseas, the station commanders ruled that no cadets. regardless of age, were to drink alcohol. Smoking was tolerated though. I would get all the over 18 cadets together, some of which could be over 21 back in the day, and advise them of the policy and that I did not expect to see them drinking and certainly not drunk or hung over. I never did see them drinking alcohol so never had to enforce the policy. They were intelligent and respectful enough to get the message.
3 Likes
Only if the Express runs a 25 year campaign on the ‘war against KS3 fights over who won the football game last Tuesday’, otherwise no.
1 Like