[varispeed]

I view this as a virtue signalling rather than actual sign of change. For example government is still criminalising people who use cannabis medicinally and cannot afford getting private prescription. This is a PR - "hey, look, we are the good guys now!", but reality is far from that. Then if you look at statistics you are far more likely to be stop and searched or arrested for possession of drugs if you belong to an ethnic minority or you are a male, despite the fact the drugs use amongst the population is very similar (with an exception for people of Asian origin, they don't use as many drugs as other groups). It is a welcome gesture though. Alan Turing is a national hero.

[resoluteteeth]

I don't really understand the connection; what does cannabis have to do with Alan Turing?

[varispeed]

The connection is the evilness of the government. Alan Turing was persecuted for who he was and in the same way people who use this particular medication are persecuted in similar fashion, for who they are. There is propaganda, harassment by the police, arrests - similar climate that was around people attracted to the same sex.

[drannex]

> similar climate that was around people attracted to the same sex.

You really truly can't compare the two in any substantial way. One of which was the murder of entire segment of the population as a method of reducing visibility and acceptance. You don't see the general public killing, maiming, or abusing cannabis users at any scale similar to that of the homophobia that permateated, and permeates the entire structure from the weakest on the social order to the most powerful.

You just can not compare the removal of reproduction, the imprisonment of a minority, and the victimizing of things people can not control to the act of voluntarily smoking or ingesting of any chemical.

This may be propoganda, but this is propoganda that is a net benefit for all involved. This gives people hope that things can be better, this gives people hope that things can change, this gives people a nod that homophobia is not the way to go, and to be more accepting. This is a representation of the highest level of government bending to the will of the people.

You just can't compare the two.

[varispeed]

Are you trying to say that your pain is better than my pain?

My pain doesn't compare in a substantial way?

> You just can not compare the removal of reproduction, the imprisonment of a minority, and the victimizing of things people can not control to the act of voluntarily smoking or ingesting of any chemical.

People with chronic disease cannot choose to not have it. Just like people cannot choose their sexuality.

This medicine brings relief at a level no other medicine can. Just like straight sex does not give the same pleasure.

Are you implying that people who medicate do it, I don't know, for fun? That's an enormous display of ignorance and proves my point.

I think you should educate yourself about the so called war on drugs, how many lives it claimed, how many lives it ruined and how it must be for a person with chronic illness to obtain medication from gangs, being robbed, beaten, how it is to be in constant hiding, not being able to talk about it with anyone, living with fear of losing job and so on.

The medical use only recently has become legal and is only available on expensive private prescription.