HSE Poll for/against cannabis legalisation

Elevator

this is the start of it now

if ya have a minute click the link and cast your vote on what could very well bring about a change in our ridiculous ban on the blessed herb

peace

http://www.drugs.ie/news/article/hse_launches_drugs_awareness_campaign

(poll along the right hand side)

red menace

Elevator wrote: »

this is the start of it now

if ya have a minute click the link and cast your vote on what could very well bring about a change in our ridiculous ban on the blessed herb

peace

http://www.drugs.ie/news/article/hse_launches_drugs_awareness_campaign

(poll along the right hand side)

Its good to see referendums being replaced by online polls, much better idea

ilovesleep

Yes yes yes yes

will it be for medical or recreational use or both

ilovesleep

red menace wrote: »

Its good to see referendums being replaced by online polls, much better idea

I agree. Its great to get more young people voting and less older people voting.

FreudianSlippers

So sick of the ignorant old people in this country voting.

I'm sick of dumb people voting too... old and dumb are too easily swayed by hype.

Elevator

so...

out of 1,500 votes the poll is currently 78% for the legalisation of cannabis

if you havent already cast your vote, why not?

GhostInTheRuins

Because it's not going to make a blind bit of difference maybe?

Elevator

GhostInTheRuins wrote: »

Because it's not going to make a blind bit of difference maybe?

that's where you're wrong mate, the eu came out in the past2 weeks telling member states they're free to change their stance on all the currently illegal drugs and to take their slice of the €50bn industry.

we'll see cannabis legalised here very soon!!

it only takes a second to click the link and vote, yes, no or i don't know

Sea Sharp

Elevator wrote: »

that's where you're wrong mate, the eu came out in the past2 weeks telling member states they're free to change their stance on all the currently illegal drugs and to take their slice of the €50bn industry.

we'll see cannabis legalised here very soon!!

No we won't. What will happen is that some other European country will realise the economic benefits and legalise it before everybody else. They'll get a load of income from tourism, within three years several other countries will jump on the band wagon, but it will be too late as if weed is legal all over Europe then there is no incentive to come to Ireland for weed.

flash1080

I hope the HSE will have a poll for/against street fighting legalisation.

Elevator

flash1080 wrote: »

I hope the HSE will have a poll for/against street fighting legalisation.

what the fcuk has that got to do with this thread?

and @ sea sharp ; do you think the gangs are making nothing here at present and are instead keeping their investments long term just incase some deviant tourism takes off in Ireland??

bottom line is the cannabis industry alone here is worth untold millions but it all goes straight underground with no benefit to anyone other than criminals!!

we would straight away have a massive cash injection to the state when they legalise it and that's not relying on one drug tourist either!!

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Sea Sharp wrote: »

No we won't. What will happen is that some other European country will realise the economic benefits and legalise it before everybody else. They'll get a load of income from tourism, within three years several other countries will jump on the band wagon, but it will be too late as if weed is legal all over Europe then there is no incentive to come to Ireland for weed.

Like holland?

It's not just to target tourism...

Think about it. Take the money out of the drug dealers pockets and put it in the economy. It's not that difficult like...

flash1080

If cannabis was legalised then the well established dealers could take control of the legitimate cannabis business and use it as a front for their illegal business activities, using for example "coffee shops" to launder money from the illegal side of their business. Or they could funnel money from the legitimate business into their pockets and avoid paying tax on it. The second way is arguably better because it means more €€€€€ for the dealers.

Jesus Wept

OisinT wrote: »

So sick of the ignorant old people in this country voting.

I'm sick of dumb people voting too... old and dumb are too easily swayed by hype.

Maybe your vote should be porportional based on how long the remainder of your life expectancy is. :pac:

Elevator

flash1080 wrote: »

If cannabis was legalised then the well established dealers could take control of the legitimate cannabis business and use it as a front for their illegal business activities, using for example "coffee shops" to launder money from the illegal side of their business. Or they could funnel money from the legitimate business into their pockets and avoid paying tax on it. The second way is arguably better because it means more €€€€€ for the dealers.

so we do nothing and leave the profits and deathcounts to the dealers so

even though there are many many people crying out for medicinal cannabis here in this country!!

jimmycrackcorm

Elevator wrote: »

so we do nothing and leave the profits and deathcounts to the dealers so!

So who should take the deathcount?

Saila

Elevator wrote: »

so we do nothing and leave the profits and deathcounts to the dealers so

Im sure you will find the answer in one of the other 9 threads on the legalise cannabis beating the horse to death though.

Bi6N

The pros have and always will outweigh the cons, any intelligent mind will see that.
Its about time this injustice came to an end.

tommyhaas

I never liked hippies or students so I voted no

tommyhaas

tommyhaas wrote: »

I never liked hippies or students so I voted no

So you're saying that you hate the peaceful and the educated?

Amhran Nua

Sea Sharp wrote: »

What will happen is that some other European country will realise the economic benefits and legalise it before everybody else. They'll get a load of income from tourism

We don't want drug tourism. The Dutch have taken steps to curtail drug tourism, because they don't want it either.

flash1080 wrote: »

If cannabis was legalised then the well established dealers could take control of the legitimate cannabis business and use it as a front for their illegal business activities, using for example "coffee shops" to launder money from the illegal side of their business. Or they could funnel money from the legitimate business into their pockets and avoid paying tax on it. The second way is arguably better because it means more €€€€€ for the dealers.

That's not how it works, after prohibition ended in the US, the powerful gangs that had arisen to supply alcohol basically vanished.

The start and the end of it is this: soft drugs are widely available anyway, and they form a staple income for violent criminal gangs, as well as lending these dregs a robin-hood like veneer. Preventative measures have failed, and put millions of euros annually into the hands of career criminals, who have been terrorising our streets and the young people of the country, leading to an ongoing vicious circle of violent crime.

By legalising soft drugs, you remove much of the income from these gangs, free up Garda time and prison resources, and take a big step towards dealing with widespread antisocial behaviour.

I'm not in favour of drug use, and I'm not in favour of any government peddling drugs; I think all taxes from the sales of substances like Marijuana should be put directly into a public education campaign to keep people off them. In this case however, its the lesser of two evils by far.

What you need to do is keep the following in mind:

• We can't become the Bolivia of Europe, our neighbours will be less than impressed if unlicensed growers start shipping the stuff out to nearby countries.
• We don't want drug tourists.
• We don't want a half job done like in Amsterdam, if sections of the law are not enforced by wink and nod they only serve to bring the whole body of the law into disrepute.
• We don't want harder drugs legalised, although we equally don't want the victims of these drugs criminalised, instead clinical treatment programmes need to be enhanced. The sale and supply of these substances should be subject to a full zero tolerance policy.

If legislation is put forward shaped around these goals, I think the benefits will be immediate and measurable.

tommyhaas

Deleted User wrote: »

So you're saying that you hate the peaceful and the educated?

Wouldnt say hate, just dislike. And its nothing to do with the educated, Iv no problem with graduates

Its just the whole mayday/g8 protesting types really

flash1080

Amhran Nua wrote: »

We don't want drug tourism. The Dutch have taken steps to curtail drug tourism, because they don't want it either.


That's not how it works, after prohibition ended in the US, the powerful gangs that had arisen to supply alcohol basically vanished.

The start and the end of it is this: soft drugs are widely available anyway, and they form a staple income for violent criminal gangs, as well as lending these dregs a robin-hood like veneer. Preventative measures have failed, and put millions of euros annually into the hands of career criminals, who have been terrorising our streets and the young people of the country, leading to an ongoing vicious circle of violent crime.

By legalising soft drugs, you remove much of the income from these gangs, free up Garda time and prison resources, and take a big step towards dealing with widespread antisocial behaviour.

I'm not in favour of drug use, and I'm not in favour of any government peddling drugs; I think all taxes from the sales of substances like Marijuana should be put directly into a public education campaign to keep people off them. In this case however, its the lesser of two evils by far.

What you need to do is keep the following in mind:

• We can't become the Bolivia of Europe, our neighbours will be less than impressed if unlicensed growers start shipping the stuff out to nearby countries.
• We don't want drug tourists.
• We don't want a half job done like in Amsterdam, if sections of the law are not enforced by wink and nod they only serve to bring the whole body of the law into disrepute.
• We don't want harder drugs legalised, although we equally don't want the victims of these drugs criminalised, instead clinical treatment programmes need to be enhanced. The sale and supply of these substances should be subject to a full zero tolerance policy.

If legislation is put forward shaped around these goals, I think the benefits will be immediate and measurable.

Drug tourism is one of the arguments put forward in support of legalisation. Why would you prohibit tourists from using drugs, one law for them, one for us? Will you stop them from drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco too?

The gangs won't just disappear, they'll find another way of making money, maybe focus more on hard drugs. If someone had significant control over cannabis supply in Ireland and it was legalised, while profits would be slightly affected due to taxes, why would they let someone else muscle in on it and make the profits?

"Victims of drugs" is complete bull. They're not victims, they chose to do drugs. Why shouldn't they be criminalised if they show no regard for the law? If someone breaks other laws they are criminalised.

Coriolanus

flash1080 wrote: »

The gangs won't just disappear, they'll find another way of making money, maybe focus more on hard drugs. If someone had significant control over cannabis supply in Ireland and it was legalised, while profits would be slightly affected due to taxes, why would they let someone else muscle in on it and make the profits?

Because it could be quite easily legislated for. If it were to be legalised the State could mount a monopoly on it's import, and since it would effectively be buying the national supply it could quite easily price the illegals out of the market.

Wertz

That poll is pointless window dressing.
I've seen polls like this on fan sites for some TV show or whatever asking do you think character X should not have been killed off or whatever (tick Yes , No or Don't Know radio buttons)....regardless of what way the fans vote in that case, character X will remain dead (or whatever) since it's at the behest of the writers, not the fans.

Does anyone honestly think that the opinion of the couple of thousand people who visit a site called drugs.ie will be in any way taken in to account by those who hold any legislative power?

When I see a proper opinion poll on a matter like this and it's results carried across the media, then I'll believe that there might be some movement in the bowels of government toward a re-think on policy...unfortunately this isn't it.

Amhrain Nua wrote:

We don't want drug tourists.

But we're perferctly happy to keep people coming here on the back of the good old Irish stereotype of binge drinking till the wee hours and puking in the street on your stag do, fiddly di fiddly dee.
I don't know if you've noticed but the country's broke...any tourist is a desirable one, if they're going to come here and spend money. "Drug" tourists still need to fly, still need to eat, to stay in hotels, to buy stuff, use taxis: all that good sh*t that keeps money flowing.
Beggars can't be choosers.

I like your use of the word "We" too....you don't speak for me or anyone else so please don't claim to...

flash1080

Nevore wrote: »

Because it could be quite easily legislated for. If it were to be legalised the State could mount a monopoly on it's import, and since it would effectively be buying the national supply it could quite easily price the illegals out of the market.

So the government would be the sole supplier of drugs?

Pete M.

The fact that it illegal anywhere is just daft.

Simples.

Wertz

flash1080 wrote: »

So the government would be the sole supplier of drugs?

F*ck I hope not...imagine the queues outside the Dáil

tommyhaas

Nevore wrote: »

Because it could be quite easily legislated for. If it were to be legalised the State could mount a monopoly on it's import, and since it would effectively be buying the national supply it could quite easily price the illegals out of the market.

I reckon Gillegan etc run a more efficient operation then the State, and could probably supply it cheaper then the numerous public bodies that would no doubt be involved

Coriolanus

flash1080 wrote: »

So the government would be the sole supplier of drugs?

Yeah, I figure if we're going to legalise it we might as well do it properly. The Govt would then resell onto businesses etc. Probably never actually be in Govt hands at all, it'd be on paper though.

Coriolanus

tommyhaas wrote: »

I reckon Gillegan etc run a more efficient operation then the State, and could probably supply it cheaper then the numerous public bodies that would no doubt be involved

I doubt it. Consider the markup an eighth of hash. It literally grows out of the fúcking ground!