Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
What the f**k is the point in banning them
Youth views on herbal and not so herbal highs.
With all the furore around headshops this year, SpunOut decided to find out what YOU really think of herbal and not so herbal highs and the banning of many headshop products. Is it right? Is it fair? Are herbal highs okay? Have you tried ‘em? SpunOut found out....
Firstly, many people think the headshops and headshops products should stay, with the feeling being that it is safer to buy substances in a shop with a security camera and staff than from their local “dodgy” drug dealer. They feel that the government needs to get a more realistic handle on the issue:
“I think the head shops should stay, I have taken many of their products and found them to be good, but only if you take the right dose. I feel the powers that be should accept that people want to get high and provide us with a safe product, rather than leaving us in the hands of criminals and their dodgy methods. Come on people WAKE UP!!!!!”
SpunOut users have spoken of friends or family members who switched from illegal drugs to herbal highs, again stating that they felt it was better and safer than buying from drug dealers. One user said that:
“Speaking to two of my uncles who are frequent illegal drug users, one says they're great and he won't go back to the illegal ones.”
Many people also like the fact that there is staff on hand in headshops to advise them on how to use the products in a safer way. They are aware that there are still dangers with herbal highs, but they feel that at least in a headshop, you know exactly what you are buying. The products sold in headshops are labelled with dosage instructions and ingredient lists, so they feel it is not as much of a gamble as illegal drugs since these can be laced with everything from rat poison to cyanide. As one user put it:
“They [headshop staff] do kinda tell ya what to do when you’re buying ‘em ... or if you just tell them what you’re looking for, they point you in the right direction..!!! I think it sounds sooooo much safer if you are planning on experimenting to go and get them in a shop and know exactly what you are taking, instead of waiting to be approached by someone you don’t know who’s giving you God knows what”!
There is also a feeling that headshops are safer because there is no fear of violence. There are no money worries like with a drug dealer for example, as:
“At least if you are using headshops chances are you ain’t gonna be getting shot at when you don’t have the money, ‘cause fact is your gonna have to get the money in the first place.There is a real fear that drug dealers are often involved in shady activities and have access to guns. Knowing you are dealing with people this can feel somewhat uncomfortable and frightening. The headshops avoid this issue, even if the products themselves are dangerous."
Just like with other drugs (legal and illegal), people feel that headshop products are safe enough when taken in the recommended doses. They report enjoying headshop products when taken in correct doses. Again, the packaging or staff at the shop advise on correct dosage and this does not happen with illegal drugs at all.
Finally, SpunOutters seem to say that people will use drugs anyway no matter what laws are passed. Even when there are dangers and the dangers are well known, many people will still want to take drugs. Cigarettes are a perfect example of this; as in everyone knows they are linked to lung cancer, yet people still smoke.
Overall, there is the feeling that these products should not have been banned and that even though they carry dangers like any drug, it is still safer to buy drug products in a shop rather than from a dealer on a street corner.
One user put it well:
“What the fu*k is the point n banning them or whatever? It’s ALWAYS gonna be there no matter what you try to do about it. It’s like illegal drugs and fake ID’s. Everything else you are not supposed to be doing .. people will FIND a way to do it! It’s dangerous but it is much safer than getting involved with a scummy drug dealer”.
Overall, young people are not happy with this ban.
Are you? Leave YOUR comments below.....
