WTF. This is the most ridiculous thing I've heard. Are these Qld politicians 20 no 30 years behind the time? And just WHO THE FUCK are their health advisers? Give me 1 minute in a room with any of them and their science behind their reasoning. MY academic boxing gloves are on...and takers?
If not shared, and if they are cleaned regularly, BONGS are definitely BETTER for your health than the alternative of smoking joints. Why?
Because 2 of the nastiest chemicals in tobacco and marijuana are substantially removed by passing through - or even across the surface of -water. These are acetylaldehyde and acrolein.
Alveolar macrophages are one of the major defense cells of the lung and are an important component of the immune system. When the macrophages were exposed to smoke that was not water filtered, there was a marked impairment of their capacity to kill bacteria. When the smoke was water-filtered, however, there was no reduction in the bactericidal ability of the macrophages, suggesting that marijuana smoke that has been passed through sufficient water will have less impact on the immune system than marijuana smoke that has not been water-filtered.
Check out the
facts via this old thread.
Bongs or joints; which is better for you?
I know of a doctor who smokes only tobacco through a "hubbly bubbly" as he calls it. Most of his colleagues who smoked cigs died before age 60 from smoking related diseases. Some years ago I myself had a tumor removed from my larynx - possibly due to irritation from years of smoking joints. With a glass bong, I've had no problems in this area - but when I've smoked from an orchy bong or similar (particularly when it's new), it's a different story all together. I seem to get a tickle (throat irritation) which lasts all night. There's definitely something happening in the contact regions where plastic, hot coals & smoke make contact. I'd doubt any research has been done in this area.
Like glass pipes still available in Vic, someone will always sell bongs, even at a $100,000 fine, Why? Because there's a fat market of older customers who know newer customers. They will be sold in pieces as exotic vases or something similar. So just what do the Qld government think they are accomplishing with such a move? Other than to -of course -further restrict an industry already squeezed, while household hoses continue to get shorter, and the range of smoking related complications among young adults grows.
The understandable response from the bong using % of Queensland society will to make one with whatever lies around. Now that's a great way (NOT) of improving accuracy by estimating increasing marijuana use through increases in bong sales. I bet the idea of collating such figures so as to formulate or compare with other study trends would never be considered.
We wouldn't want to emphasize just how many users are out there. Best to keeps such figures and the opinions which go with them out of the debate for the lost cause HR. 
What's the bet this state government closes the opportunity for pill testing before the request is made 8)
What's likely to stem from the ban is a true-blue products of Aussie inventiveness. Improvisation around the BBQ. A down pipe could always lend itself to modification
The bucket bong will also likely make a comeback, introducing more recyclable plastic - reactive in the right environment - and causing users to breathe more potentially carcinogenic unknowns.
The worst thing about such a move- and obvious to anyone educated just a bit - is the absolute blinkers approach to any scientific rationale when formulating such policies. While social figures can be manipulated to stress or diminish a point, raw data science at a chemical or biological level is less disputable - simply because it's reproducible. A sociological study rarely meets this criteria, either because of logistics, or simply because trends may change as may the minds of participants. Many variables. Of course decent demographical studies are vital, but they should never influence or argue with science at a molecular level.
Academic arrogance has no place in government, yet it thrives.
It would seem that this (bong sales) information could be obtained and used to better formulate future policies. Instead the problem is once again swept under the carpet. Hey, you can't say you need a harm minimisation policy if you can't provide the evidence. I'm waiting for the day when someone of authority will respond on Bluelight to the reasoning behind such a suggestion - remember this *idea* came from the opposition.....8)
There is a serious push towards removing harm reduction and socially needy groups from political agenda in Qld. Where exactly does this come from? Perhaps it is universal. It's certainly revered and feared by some health and community workers I've spoken to, so much so that any thoughts of voicing an objection are quickly *forgotten*
Science ignorance + xenophobia = drug laws. Seems this old-age form of policy making is still alive and well
somewhere in Australia
Excuse the rant. This made my blood boil...better watch that BP
