“"The taking of drugs is against the law. Get over it."

Spike, would that have been your response to homosexuals prior to 1967? Or to women seeking the vote in the early 20th century? Sometimes the law gets it wrong, and when it does, telling those who campaign for change to "get over it" does nothing to address their criticisms. And anyway, the taking of many drugs isn't against the law: alcohol, tobacco, fly agaric mushrooms, caffeine, salvia divinorum for example. If you support the prohibition of some drugs but not others, the onus is upon you to show that the ones you would permit are all less dangerous than the ones you'd prohibit...and I challenge you to do that with respect to alcohol. And, Jamie, you cannot get around this by saying that legal drugs like alcohol are part of our culture and other drugs aren't, because this fails to identify a sufficient reason for making users of one drug a criminal and not others - our criminal laws should not be arbitrary, because arbitrary infliction of punishment is just about as good a definition of 'injustice' as you could hope for. And besides, I wouldn't be at all surprised if more people in England have used cocaine than have gone morris dancing - the culture argument cuts no ice.

PW - while you are right that if everyone voluntarily stopped using drugs then their negative effects would disappear, you come up against the wall of human nature. Whether you like it or not, there are always some people attracted to drug use; there always have been and it's reasonable to assume there always will be. The negative effects of cars would also disappear if only everybody would stop driving, but that's not to say it's remotely likely. Drug use is a public health concern that must be managed rationally, not swept under the carpet. And not all drug use is problem drug use (just try substituting the word 'alcohol' there to see what I mean), so making criminals of the many to prevent harms to the few is a grossly cruel, counterproductive and inefficient way of going about things.”

“One only has to watch Jeremy Kyle to see what long term cannabis and alcohol abuse have on the so called 'underclass'
It's a tough one though - making anything illegal make it attractive and therefore profitable (think prohibition in 1920s USA). However, the only real way to stamp out the negative efects of illegal drugs in a sensible socitety is for everyone to oppose it an stop using. THAT would be worth working towards, Not 'helping' overpaid and overprivileged users with 'problems' (and before the rants start - I'm in the media and have seen many 'bright young things' lose everything through recreational drug use)”

“"Nice people rape".........? Bad point made terribly. Go back to bed.”

“Yes! I agree that 'nice people take drugs'!
Nice people also steal, murder, rape, drink & drive, damage property etc.; BUT! It's against the law of the land. There is no 'lope hole' for 'nice' people you fools!”

“don't support this protest for this reason - If any player or players want to take drugs it's up to them, they are fully aware of the consequences should they get caught. What annoyed me was when all this came up, one particular player bragging, singing and coming up with limericks during a Bath youth team outing, he might as well of stood at a school gate”

“The taking of drugs is against the law. Get over it.”

“HUGS NOT DRUGS GUYS HUGS NOT DRUGS!!!!!”

“I have mixed feelings on this. I should start by saying that I am not a drug user, though have used cannabis in the past. On the one hand, money from drugs does go towards funding pretty serious crime, but then the same could be said for booze, the tax we pay on which goes on the illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan etc. Drugs such as herion and cociane contribute massivley to funding really nasty groups that oppress thousands of people to produce the drugs that end up on our streets. Then again, the exact same criticism could be levelled at Nike, Disney or McDonalds, all of whom keep helpless people as practical slaves in horrendous conditions just to fuel the desires of our consumer society. I think communities need to crack down on and get rid of hard drug dealers and se them as the scum that they are. I think that legalizing some drugs would actually prevent both crime and mental illnesses associated with drug use. For example, I think it should be legal for people to grow small quantities of their own drugs (as is the case in California). This would give the user more control, limit dangerous 'skunk' varieties (which are only created to allow smaller packages of harder cannabis to be smuggled more easily and create a more addictive product) and help to eliminate the terrible exploitation involved in the cannabis smuggling and producing industry. Overall, like almost all other industries, legal or otherwise, which rely on a flow of goods from third world to first world nations, there are massive ethical implications which need to be addrssed. In terms of drugs that have done society no harm though, it has to be the right of the individual to choose to use them.”

“"I hope the Police are waiting for them. They should be arrested, taken away for searches and held while their homes are raided."

Arrested for holding an opinion which you don't share? Homes searched for daring to suggest a law needs reform? Is that the sort of world you want to live in?”

“Congratulations to the 19 people who came to hold up the letters NICE PEOPLE TAKE DRUGS for the Respect Photo Opp next to Bath Rugby ground. People stood up in the face of opposition from Bath Rugby and to the stigma that normally faces our community. Many other people who use drugs have told me of their frustration at not being able to come out and support us publicly. We are fully aware that coming out for many was just too risky. People who use drugs are used to keeping their heads down and trying to avoid public attention, exposure and judgment. For me this just highlights the courage and strength of those that had the bottle to stand up for their community and rights. We are sick of being discriminated and judged for the choices we make about our own bodies. Of course we don't believe that people have the right to infringe on other people's rights in order to use drugs. However, much of the anti-social behaviour that derives from drug use would be removed if we had a legal regulated drug market. We would like to pay taxes both to pay for the services that our community needs and to give back to the wider community. We hate the fact that money goes back into organised crime and terrorism. However, it is a bit rich to blame us for the failed drug policy promoted by the UN and national government. The war on drugs has failed using an reasonable measure. It is time to declare a peace, to start with decriminalising possession of drugs like in Portugal, Argentina, Brazil and number of other countries. Then we can have a serious discussion about how to bring drugs back under a regulated market that protects the rights and health of people who use drugs and the wider community.

Much respect to all those who turned out and the 20+ who joined us in the park after wards and joined Respect. We would also invite the many who couldn't come to join Respect and support us even if from behind the scenes.

An important day for people who use drugs in the West Country. Well done everyone. Thanks Bath Chronical for allowing us the chance to air our opinions to the other people of Bath.”