ALREADY!!! - Another Lib Makes a Dickhead of Himself

It was only 2 days into 2010 and already another Lib had made a dickhead of themselves. Victorian Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu has joined the ranks of other political morons who have lied about or greatly exaggerated the effects of illicit drugs for personal, political gain. Following on from the trend set in SA and WA, Baillieu has declared that he will ban bongs if elected at the next state election.

When professionally made bongs are not available, smokers often resort to making their own from common household items. Most of us have seen the result of a home made bong - that ganja icon made of an orange juice container, a strip of garden hose and some tin foil. Often it is also made with other toxic materials like Blu-Tack, masking tape or glue to seal it around the cone where you light it. Some nasty fumes can come from these products. For example, although no one actually knows all the ingredients in Blu-Tack(trade secret), when lit, it releases quantities of carbon dioxide and monoxide, water vapour, oxides of nitrogen and toxic fumes. Not very healthy at all. I imagine glue and masking tape also have similar toxic fumes when set alight.

To ban bongs, you must effectively ban all drug paraphernalia including other safety products like crack/ice pipes and cocaine kits. These products help stop the spread of killer blood borne diseases like HIV/AIDS and Hep C. Banning drug paraphernalia is a simple way to sentence some people to death or a life of misery. I’m sure Baillieu knows this but as we’ve seen with other selfish, myopic politicians, the quest for votes is more compelling.

I have been criticised as being too harsh on politicians by calling them dickheads and liars but in reality they get off very lightly. They put through laws that effect all of us and some of them may actually cause harm to the public. This puts a lot of responsibility on these people but ultimately it’s their decision to run for office. Most of us understand there is some self promotion required when you’re a politician but when it becomes more important than the issues, a policy lacks any evidence or it is purely for political gain, then we have a problem. Especially when the issue leads to people dying or suffering something as unimaginable as HIV/AIDS. Banning drug paraphernalia will kill people and hurt many families - simple. And the stated reasons given by Baillieu are just wrong. So let me clear this up ... Ted Baillieu is a dickhead. A dangerous, selfish, greedy, lying dickhead.

He(Ted Baillieu) said, research showed cannabis was a gateway drug into more dangerous illicit drugs, with most heroin and cocaine users first experimenting with cannabis
-The Sydney Morning Herald quoting Victorian Opposition Leader, Ted Baillieu

Bullshit. The Gateway Theory has been debunked by every reputable study since 1944 and is considered now just an example of Reefer Madness. The Gateway Theory then called the Stepping Stone Theory was pioneered in 1951 by Harry Anslinger, head of the US Federal Bureau of Narcotics who, without a shred of evidence made the assertion that marijuana is a stepping stone to heroin addiction. This completely contradicted his own public and personal views. This has been the basis of US cannabis policy ever since and is still used by anti-drug crusaders. Funnily enough, the original Stepping Stone theory was that spicy Mexican food led to hard drug use(opium/heroin).

The fundamental idea comes from America's puritanical history. It is the idea that pleasure is sinful, and small pleasures lead to cravings for larger pleasures. In this example, those who crave spicy food will inevitably crave larger pleasures, such as opium.
-History of the Marijuana Gateway Myth by Clifford A. Schaffer

10 years later, some states in the US banned marijuana because they believed that opium/heroin led to marijuana addiction. LOL!

BTW, Reefer Madness is a reference to a propaganda movie made by the US government that depicted massive exaggeration and falsehoods about cannabis. The movie was meant to evoke public hysteria and damnation of cannabis use. Most opposition to cannabis back then was fuelled by racism, industry protection and moral panic.

Mr Baillieu said research from the Mental Health Council of Australia had found that cannabis users were three times more likely to develop psychosis
-The Age quoting Victorian Opposition Leader, Ted Baillieu

More Bullshit. The latest and most reputable research tells us that cannabis alone does not cause psychosis without having an existing condition or a family history of mental illness. Cannabis can introduce psychosis-like symptoms that disappear after the effects of cannabis dissipate. Ironically, Bailieu’s assumptions are based on decades of consuming political spin largely from the feral federal Libs under Howard and junk science from anti-drug nutters who the Libs support.

Cannabis is a dangerous drug which causes serious mental and physical damage to many Victorians every year. As long as John Brumby allows bongs to be sold freely at more than 100 outlets across the state, Victoria's young people and families will continue to suffer from the damaging effects of cannabis.
-The Sydney Morning Herald quoting Victorian Opposition Leader, Ted Baillieu

The Victorian government stood their ground, refusing to budge and they deserve some credit for that. As Balillieu said, Victoria is the only state where drug paraphernalia is not banned. The problem for Ted Baillieu is that this makes Victoria the only sensible state when it comes to ensuring proper equipment is available for the safety and health of drug users. Until The Libs comprehend this or at least stop lying, they will be continue to be responsible for many deaths to come and the misery of thousands of Australians.

Baillieu's Election Vow To Ban The Bong
The Age
January 2010

BONGS would be banned in Victoria if the Coalition wins the state election this year.

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said the move would send a clear message to young people that cannabis is dangerous and harmful.

He said Victoria was the only state not to restrict the sale of bongs despite cannabis being illegal but widely used by young people.

''As long as John Brumby allows bongs to be sold freely at more than 100 outlets across the state, Victoria's young people and families will continue to suffer from the damaging effects of cannabis,'' Mr Baillieu said.

''Victorians can't trust a government that claims it is tough on drugs yet won't take this important step to reduce drug use.''

Under the Coalition's plan, Consumer Affairs Victoria inspectors would police the ban.

Mr Baillieu said research from the Mental Health Council of Australia had found that cannabis users were three times more likely to develop psychosis.
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Bongs Stay On Sale In Vic Amid Ban Call
Sydney Morning Herald
By Daniel Fogarty
January 2010

AAP - The Victorian government will continue to allow the sale of marijuana-smoking implements, despite an opposition pledge to ban bongs should they win the next election.

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said a Coalition government would introduce the ban to reduce the harm caused to families by cannabis.

"Cannabis is a dangerous drug which causes serious mental and physical damage to many Victorians every year," he said on Saturday.

"As long as John Brumby allows bongs to be sold freely at more than 100 outlets across the state, Victoria's young people and families will continue to suffer from the damaging effects of cannabis."

But a spokesman for the government said it would not change its policy on the sale of bongs.

"We have examined this issue in the past but we do not support a ban on bongs and will continue to focus on prevention, education and working closely with police around law enforcement," he said in a statement.

"Victoria is tough on drugs with a focus on prevention, protecting our young people and reducing demand and the uptake of illicit drugs in our community."

The spokesman said the Opposition had no comprehensive drugs policy and continued to tinker around the edge of a serious issue - addressing the symptoms and not the cause.

Mr Baillieu said that under the Coalition plan it would amend the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act to restrict the sale of bongs, with Consumer Affairs Victoria inspectors being responsible for policing the ban.

He said research showed cannabis was a gateway drug into more dangerous illicit drugs, with most heroin and cocaine users first experimenting with cannabis.

"Victorians can't trust a government that claims it is tough on drugs yet won't take this important step to reduce drug use," Mr Baillieu said.

An election is due to be held in Victoria in November.
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