Uruguay to legalise marijuana

Sunnyisland

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/uruguay-set-to-legalise-marijuana-29464290.html

Uruguay has moved a step closer to becoming the first country in the world to create a legal marijuana industry in an attempt to fight organised crime.

Uruguay's government would license growers, sellers and consumers, and update a confidential registry to keep people from buying more than 40 grams a month. Carrying, growing or selling pot without a licence could bring prison terms, but licensed consumers could grow up to six plants at a time at home.

But critics warn that marijuana is a gateway drug and that fostering the market is playing with fire.

Don't smoke myself but it would be my opinion that this a move in the right direction as prohibition on cannabis just does not work and also for me anyway ,it takes vast profits away from organised crime gangs, hopefully more countries will follow.

Zascar

Meanwhile in Russia...

Banjo String

Karl Stein

The sooner the farcical prohibition of this plant is over the better.

There should be mass disobedience around the world. Thousands of stoners turning up in city centres to smoke weed with an army of ice-cream vans in hot pursuit.

Oranage2

I remember when the occupy dame street was about I had a look around the camp, I could confidently say that all the protesters would be well experienced in cannabis usage.

Do people really want to turn Ireland into one big occupy movement full of stoners?

elefant

Oranage2 wrote: »

I remember when the occupy dame street was about I had a look around the camp, I could confidently say that all the protesters would be well experienced in cannabis usage.

Do people really want to turn Ireland into one big occupy movement full of stoners?

You're right. Legalising weed and the inexorable drift towards living in tents would destroy the construction industry here. Save our economy; keep weed off the streets!

Karl Stein

Oranage2 wrote: »

I could confidently say that all the protesters would be well experienced in cannabis usage.

No you couldn't.

Tipsy McSwagger

Should be legal to anyone who suffers from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, Arthritis etc.

Oranage2

elefant wrote: »

You're right. Legalising weed and the inexorable drift towards living in tents would destroy the construction industry here. Save our economy; keep weed off the streets!

Well I have plenty of other reasons too but anti cannabis on after hours is extremely drowned upon and I dont want to be putting my head on a chopping block.

Duck's hoop

Oranage2 wrote: »

Do people really want to turn Ireland into one big occupy movement full of stoners?

Do you experience the world in stereotype and clichè? It seems you do.

Do yourself a favour and try to find out things for yourself. Instead of snootily judging those people, attributing to them what the establishment has taught you to believe, instead of looking, try talking.

And maybe get a life.

dublinbhoy88

Oranage2 wrote: »

I remember when the occupy dame street was about I had a look around the camp, I could confidently say that all the protesters would be well experienced in cannabis usage.

Do people really want to turn Ireland into one big occupy movement full of stoners?

better than a country of alcoholics that we have now..!

Oranage2

dublinbhoy88 wrote: »

better than a country of alcoholics that we have now..!

Two wrongs don't make a right.

F35

Oranage2 wrote: »

Two wrongs don't make a right.

exactly.

studiorat

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

Should be legal to anyone who suffers from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, Arthritis etc.

Why?

Leftist

ireland is about 50 years behind the rest of the western world when it comes to education about drugs.

I remember in the late 90s having guests into our secondary school to teach us about how marajuana is a 'stepping stone drug', can cause hallucinations and criminal behaviour. Can destroy lives and tear families apart.

Then you realised the adults were lying.

There are too many cardigan wearing, priest bothering fussy shams who are more interested in closing down head shops, protesting against abortion legislation and moaning about immigrants. These clowns will hold us all back.

You still get the national media reporting in crime cases that the accussed had 'used marajuana' before attacking the victim ffs

studiorat

Leftist wrote: »

You still get the national media reporting in crime cases that the accussed had 'used marajuana' before attacking the victim ffs

You just made that up. There is no national media. Show us one of these "crime cases" that you're on about.

Leftist

studiorat wrote: »

You just made that up. There is no national media. Show us one of "crime cases" that you're on about.

No national media?

I think maybe you were trying too hard to be smart without pausing to think.

Artful_Badger

realies wrote: »

Don't smoke myself but it would be my opinion that this a move in the right direction as prohibition on cannabis just does not work and also for me anyway ,it takes vast profits away from organised crime gangs, hopefully more countries will follow.

Would it though ? Wouldnt is be the organised crime gangs moving into legal business and using them to sell more than marijuana just like what happened with head shops here ?

studiorat

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Would it though ? Wouldnt is be the organised crime gangs moving into legal business and using them to sell more than marijuana just like what happened with head shops here ?

I missed that. What happened in the head shops here?

studiorat

Leftist wrote: »

No national media?

I think maybe you were trying too hard to be smart without pausing to think.

Show us the national media and your makey-uppy stories.

dublinbhoy88

Oranage2 wrote: »

Two wrongs don't make a right.

Nothing wrong with a bit of weed,anybody who wants to keep it illegal needs professional help

Leftist

studiorat wrote: »

Show us the national media and your makey-uppy stories.

The pre-sentencing hearing for Luke Wentholt, the man who murdered Irishman David Greene during a party in Melbourne in August last year, was held in the Victorian Supreme Court today.

Wentholt, who had been drinking .. and smoking cannabis...before repeatedly stomping on

Just one example.

Odd that someone would suggest that reporting use of cannabis in criminal reports is made up? really, really odd and peculiar.

Artful_Badger

studiorat wrote: »

I missed that. What happened in the head shops here?

I dont know if it happened in all of them but I recall a lot of them being mentioned as selling everything with a nudge and a wink. There was also a few I recall who were drove out of business and one iirc burned out. The criminal gangs that controlled the drugs didnt take kindly to the sale of bath salts eating into their business.

These gangs wont bow out gracefully and will try get in on what they believe to be a move on their territory. If they get influence on the business you know it wont stop at a bit of weed, if they dont get influence you can bet they will do their best to disrupt business, steal the products and bully those who try to set up these shops. The amount of crime might not disappear it might just shift.

I'm not saying its impossible and I'm not against legalisation but it is going to be a battle for territory with existing drug gangs. I'd imagine down in South America there would be a lot of people involved in drugs too so it wont be as simple as legalising it and watching all the pieces fall into place.

BrendaN_f

Leftist wrote: »

Just one example.

Odd that someone would suggest that reporting use of cannabis in criminal reports is made up? really, really odd and peculiar.

more that implicating cannabis in the crime makes as much sense as mentioning that he had a cup of coffee prior to the incident.. which would be an odd thing to report indeed

Leftist

Artful_Badger wrote: »

I'd imagine down in South America there would be a lot of people involved in drugs too

interesting... i did not know this.

Play To Kill

Oranage2 wrote: »

Do people really want to turn Ireland into one big occupy movement full of stoners?

Do you honestly think there will be an increase in usage just because it's legal?

Leftist

BrendaN_f wrote: »

more that implicating cannabis in the crime makes as much sense as mentioning that he had a cup of coffee prior to the incident.. which would be an odd thing to report indeed

100% agreed.

They wouldn't need to mention it if they felt it was unrelated. Only a moron would suggest it has not been mistakenly associated with criminal behaviour.

I have never smoked marijuana, but it's my own personal choice. Know many others who have and the only effect I've ever seen on them is that they feel a little lazy. Nothing wrong with that. It's completely silly that it's still banned. Can you imagine how quickly we would be out of recession if it was legalized and taxed? I really hope it proves successful in Uruguay, it might hopefully lead to other countries doing the same.

studiorat

Leftist wrote: »

100% agreed.

They wouldn't need to mention it if they felt it was unrelated. Only a moron would suggest it has not been mistakenly associated with criminal behaviour.

If you actually quoted the article properly and weren't so intent on twisting the truth you'd see that the cannabis was mixed with other drugs.
Only a moron would misquote the Irish Times too I suppose.

studiorat

studiorat wrote: »

If you actually quoted the article properly and weren't so intent on twisting the truth you'd see that the cannabis was mixed with other drugs.
Only a moron would misquote the Irish Times too I suppose.

Yes, but that's like saying a person drank water during a drinking alcohol binge that ultimately ended up in a hit and run.

Artful_Badger

Deleted User wrote: »

Yes, but that's like saying a person drank water during a drinking alcohol binge that ultimately ended up in a hit and run.

No its not, weed isnt a big deal but its not water, it has an affect on you. Its not absurd to mention an illegal substance when mixed with Beer, Vodka and Whiskey (which are also fine in moderation btw) in relation to some lunatic jumping on peoples heads. The fact of this story was this scumbag was loaded on all sorts and didnt act like a rational human being. Which is what the papers reported.

dublinbhoy88

I think people are missing the point about cannabis prohibition... Its not banned for health reasons.. That conspiracy theory is well debunked at this stage... The government want to grow up and join the human race

Tabnabs

Deleted User wrote: »

I have never smoked marijuana, but it's my own personal choice. Know many others who have and the only effect I've ever seen on them is that they feel a little lazy. Nothing wrong with that. It's completely silly that it's still banned. Can you imagine how quickly we would be out of recession if it was legalized and taxed? I really hope it proves successful in Uruguay, it might hopefully lead to other countries doing the same.

this is not the recession cure you are looking for...

Duck's hoop

Tabnabs wrote: »

this is not the recession cure you are looking for...

Hmmm. Yet it is estimated to be worth 12-14 billion to US economy. Rising to 20 bn by 2020.

Fact is, it's not going away, it's utterly ridiculous to criminalise smokers and growers and there's definitely a revenue source there.

At a time when they're cutting this and taxing that to make or save as little as 10 million, it's time our govt got progressive.

The world is moving on fast, particularly, and very ironically, the US.

Christ the Redeemer

Leftist wrote: »

ireland is about 50 years behind the rest of the western world when it comes to education about drugs.

I remember in the late 90s having guests into our secondary school to teach us about how marajuana is a 'stepping stone drug', can cause hallucinations and criminal behaviour. Can destroy lives and tear families apart.

Unfortunately, while there's a prohibition in effect, MJ is a stepping stone drug.

Alcohol would be too, though, if we had to buy it off some charlatan on a corner who also sold other drugs.

dublinbhoy88

Christ the Redeemer wrote: »

Unfortunately, while there's a prohibition in effect, MJ is a stepping stone drug.

Alcohol would be too, though, if we had to buy it off some charlatan on a corner who also sold other drugs.

I know plenty of people who stepped from alcohol to cocaine without using weed

Leftist

Deleted User wrote: »

Yes, but that's like saying a person drank water during a drinking alcohol binge that ultimately ended up in a hit and run.

Exactly.

studiorat wrote: »

If you actually quoted the article properly and weren't so intent on twisting the truth you'd see that the cannabis was mixed with other drugs.
Only a moron would misquote the Irish Times too I suppose.

Wentholt, who had been drinking .. and smoking cannabis...before repeatedly stomping on

mis·quote (ms-kwt)
tr.v. mis·quot·ed, mis·quot·ing, mis·quotes
To quote incorrectly.
Cringe.

Christ the Redeemer

dublinbhoy88 wrote: »

I know plenty of people who stepped from alcohol to cocaine without using weed

So do I.

Leftist

Christ the Redeemer wrote: »

Unfortunately, while there's a prohibition in effect, MJ is a stepping stone drug.

Alcohol would be too, though, if we had to buy it off some charlatan on a corner who also sold other drugs.

perhaps. the point was the misinformation that was used to educate youth about the effects of usage.

General General

Weed is from the Earth... God put it here for me & you! ...take advantage, man!

mikom

The leader of Uruguay is Jose Mujica.

He donates about 90% of his monthly salary, equivalent to $12,000 (£7,500), to charity - which has led him to be labelled the poorest president in the world.

In 2010, his annual personal wealth declaration - mandatory for officials in Uruguay - was $1,800 (£1,100), the value of his 1987 Volkswagen Beetle.

Elected in 2009, Mujica spent the 1960s and 1970s as part of the Uruguayan guerrilla Tupamaros, a leftist armed group inspired by the Cuban revolution.


He was shot six times and spent 14 years in jail. Most of his detention was spent in harsh conditions and isolation, until he was freed in 1985 when Uruguay returned to democracy.

He is about to legalise cannabis.

**********************************************

Enda Kenny is on a salary of €200,000.

Enda Kenny was a teacher.

He climbs croagh patrick with trapattoni for photo ops.

Here is his insightful commentary on cannabis.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6k9sohbulg

FANNY.

Duck's hoop

dublinbhoy88 wrote: »

I know plenty of people who stepped from alcohol to cocaine without using weed

In actual fact, many that use coke, or powders in general, as well as pills, never touch a joint.

Leftist

mikom wrote: »

He was shot six times and spent 14 years in jail.

Maybe if he layed off the joints and respected the law he would have led a better life?

Spunge

Leftist wrote: »

Maybe if he layed off the joints and respected the law he would have led a better life?

weak

MonaPizza

Oranage2 wrote: »

I remember when the occupy dame street was about I had a look around the camp, I could confidently say that all the protesters would be well experienced in cannabis usage.

Do people really want to turn Ireland into one big occupy movement full of stoners?

Well it's not against the law to buy glue in ireland. Are we all walking around in a haze sniffing into plastic bags full of the stuff?

Leftist

Spunge wrote: »

weak

quite the opposite infact. Takes strength to go straight.

Not sure how this convicted criminal is supposed to control a country while his arms feel like a fortnight in a bad balloon. What happens if he overdoses?

mikom

Leftist wrote: »

quite the opposite infact. Takes strength to go straight.

Not sure how this convicted criminal is supposed to control a country while his arms feel like a fortnight in a bad balloon. What happens if he overdoses?

Insert Brass Eye quote here.

Leftist

mikom wrote: »

Insert Brass Eye quote here.

This guy is injecting drugs into his spliff end.

Hande hoche!

mikom wrote: »

Insert Brass Eye quote here.

Good point, four pages in and no mention of the scourge of cake.

Christ the Redeemer

You could kill an Otter in a second....Just kick its face off.

old hippy

I loathe the gateway to other drugs argument. It makes as much sense as saying if you have the occasional glass of wine you'll end up drinking methylated spirits.

And the endless tired cliches of smokers being long haired crusty layabout lefties does get irksome. I know garda, doctors, nurses and pleny of professional folk who enjoy the odd smoke.