Cannabis in Ireland

People Before Profit are bringing forward legislation next year.

https://twitter.com/Ginosocialist/status/1338581607419142144

biko

Pure populism but will probably get them a bunch of votes.

Birneybau

biko wrote: »

Pure populism but will probably get them a bunch of votes.

Think you're confusing populism with popularity.

Tell me what's 'populist' about it?

PopZiggy

If PBP can put forward proposals to build an underground for Dublin then I'll listen to this irrelevant stuff.

John Doe1

Not a cannabis user myself but legalisation makes sense so that we can create more jobs and get money from taxes (and probably get quite a lot of money from social welfare back:p)

People before Profit are a bunch of populist eejits though

John Doe1

Birneybau wrote: »

Think you're confusing populism with popularity.

Tell me what's 'populist' about it?

Populism:

Populism refers to a range of political stances that emphasise the idea of "the people" and often juxtapose this group against "the elite".

Atlantic Dawn

Big pharma will never allow it to be legalised here.

Snotty

I'd say we are 10-15 years away from it being legalised, it's seen the same as heroin or meth to many Irish.

guitarhappy

I'm Irish, I live in the US in a cannabis legal state. There's pot shops right here in the town. Adults over 21 can walk right in and buy marijuana and marijuana products. A lot of people grow a few plants out in their garden in the summer.

Cannabis is everywhere. It doesn't cause any problems, most people consume responsibly. Drink driving and opiate use are down.

It's such a non event it makes the prohibitionists and poorly informed gateway​ drug theorists look ridiculous. The towns are appreciating the millions of new tax dollars which support the schools. Prohibition and the drug war look stupid in hindsight.

Halenvaneddie

[Deleted User] wrote: »

People Before Profit are bringing forward legislation next year.

https://twitter.com/Ginosocialist/status/1338581607419142144

Not this sh1te again

Ubbquittious

Ohhh I love a bit of cannibis.

Dunno why the hell they are keeping it banned.

guitarhappy

Ubbquittious wrote: »

Ohhh I love a bit of cannibis.

Dunno why the hell they are keeping it banned.

The liquor companies don't like a little competition and it gives the morality police something to rail against.

giles lynchwood

Once again my usual post on similar threads.Check out the results in Portugal,number's don't lie.Bring it on I say.A quote I came across lately,"Banning a plant is like saying God was wrong".

Yamanoto

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Big pharma will never allow it to be legalised here.

Never mind big pharma, it's the Licensed Vintners Association who'd fight this tooth and nail.

frag420

giles lynchwood wrote: »

Once again my usual post on similar threads.Check out the results in Portugal,number's don't lie.Bring it on I say.A quote I came across lately,"Banning a plant is like saying God was wrong".

Took long enough for a Bill Hicks reference to appear, usually happens in the first 4-5 posts...

Anyways, I agree with the sentiment!

IAMAMORON

Hopefully it finally gets decriminalised and everyone can get on with their lives again, in peace.

It will need gubbermint support to pass however and that might not be straightforward.

atilladehun

Is anyone against this? I reckon it would be 66-33 in favour of it were put to the people.

rapul

Good news, hopefully this back arse country comes out of the prohibition ages, madness.

biko

The established parties should respond somehow to this so their views are known.

theballz

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Big pharma will never allow it to be legalised here.

Elaborate...

KiKi III

Pros and cons of illegal cannabis

Pros:
- it’s possible a very small minority of users are put off using based on its illegal status

Cons:
- funds gangs
- no quality standards/ regulation of THC levels
- no age restrictions (dealers will sell to your 14yo, a licensed tobacconist most likely won’t)
- prevents more widespread medicinal use
- means otherwise law-abiding people need a dealer
- gives young people a permanent criminal record for personal use
- massive waste of Garda and judiciary resources prosecuting personal use

Decriminalise it under the Portuguese model.

dasdog

According to the journal there will be an announcement made today on this which is a step in the right direction IMO.

The possession if cannabis and cannabis resin is to be added to the adult caution list 14 years after the programme was established. This now means that anyone caught in possession of cannabis for personal use can receive a caution instead of being arrested and charged with criminal possession.

suicide_circus

I dont necessarily want weed shops on every corner but a couple smoking a joint along the canal on a sunny afternoon should not be a police matter.

giles lynchwood

https://www.businessinsider.com/uruguay-has-decriminalized-all-drugs-for-40-years-2016-6?r=US&IR=T.

Watched a great docu on this a few year's ago and its a very well thought out system,for the life of me I can't remember the name of it. Our biggest problem is the amount of tax alcohol bring in like all banana republic's cash is king above the welfare of it's citizens, just look at the mess we're in now with covid,years of neglect of the health service has come back to bite us in the ass.Anybody who cuts funding to a health service is not a human being.Imho

RWCNT

Are there any figures from other countries on whether cannabis legalisation has brought down alcohol use or lead to decreased liquor sales?

I can well believe that big companies involved in drink would look to oppose this, but I wonder if they have much to be worried about. I know people who drink and smoke weed, I know people who don't drink and smoke weed and I know people who do neither, I doubt the change in the law would impact their habits much.

Seanergy

No need for vinters association to be getting involved, if anything we might see a little more celebratory tourisim as a result = win win far beyond vinters take.

Much the same with big pharma comments, a few heads toking ain't going to impact much on prescrption meds.

It does not have to be the bodies mentioned above, it could be a few corrupt AGS who are on the take, we truly don't know, it's all speculation.

The people who trade in it ain't in any rush to see it legalised.

FFG have not been pro active on this, which suggests somebody large or small could be earwigging them not to legalise.

https://twitter.com/DermoKennedy/status/1338609147743526916

gypsy79

atilladehun wrote: »

Is anyone against this? I reckon it would be 66-33 in favour of it were put to the people.

Stop this need for referendums.

And no it wouldnt! Typical BS. Remember 38% voted against gay marriage. And we all patted ourselves on the back for this "progressive" move

Samuel T. Cogley

KiKi III wrote: »

Decriminalise it under the Portuguese model.

Okay but I'd prefer to do coke off her tits.

ExMachina1000

gypsy79 wrote: »

Stop this need for referendums.

And no it wouldnt! Typical BS. Remember 38% voted against gay marriage. And we all patted ourselves on the back for this "progressive" move

Close to 80% voted to end birthright citizenship which brought us in line with every other EU country.

That is in the process of changing back again

Thelonious Monk

Why do people always bring up vintners in this discussion? I don't see how reefer and pubs are related in anyway, and I say this as an occasional user of both.

Snotty

Snotty wrote: »

I'd say we are 10-15 years away from it being legalised, it's seen the same as heroin or meth to many Irish.

Rubbish. Most Irish people know it's nothing like heroin or meth.

Most Irish people I know have smoked cannabis at some time in their lives.

There are huge numbers of people throughout the country smoking cannabis as an irregular habit, especially with the costs (and dismal decline) of the pubs/nightlife throughout the countryside.

The Portuguese model makes the most sense. I used to be a smoker, but I doubt I'd ever return to smoking it regularly.. all the same, I see few negatives to having it available, and a lot of positives.

Mimon

biko wrote: »

Pure populism but will probably get them a bunch of votes.

Totally agree it needs to be legalised and more importantly regulated but would never vote for that shower of glorified student union politicians.

Mimon

biko wrote: »

The established parties should respond somehow to this so their views are known.

Remember Leo saying when he was health minister that he viewed it as a health issue not a criminal justice issue.

I'm sure a majority in the Dail would be in favour of legalisation but many rural TDs may be afraid of supporting it.

Mimon

Deleted User wrote: »

Rubbish. Most Irish people know it's nothing like heroin or meth.

Most Irish people I know have smoked cannabis at some time in their lives.

There are huge numbers of people throughout the country smoking cannabis as an irregular habit, especially with the costs (and dismal decline) of the pubs/nightlife throughout the countryside.

The Portuguese model makes the most sense. I used to be a smoker, but I doubt I'd ever return to smoking it regularly.. all the same, I see few negatives to having it available, and a lot of positives.

Think it's an opportunity to regulate and get rid of the really strong THC weed that seems to be prevalent.

Don't get it myself and I was a stoner for years. Fecking monged after one toke. Nice to be a bit stoned and be still able to function/talk ****e/have the craic.

Mimon

KiKi III wrote: »

Pros and cons of illegal cannabis

Pros:
- it’s possible a very small minority of users are put off using based on its illegal status

Cons:
- funds gangs
- no quality standards/ regulation of THC levels
- no age restrictions (dealers will sell to your 14yo, a licensed tobacconist most likely won’t)
- prevents more widespread medicinal use
- means otherwise law-abiding people need a dealer
- gives young people a permanent criminal record for personal use
- massive waste of Garda and judiciary resources prosecuting personal use

Decriminalise it under the Portuguese model.

Great post! Need to find the right balance of regulation. Don't want it overly regulated that only large companies can get a licence to supply it. This might keep the black market alive as it will make it very expensive.

Sleeper12

Haven't been a pot smoker in decades but it should be made legal. Obviously it will be made legal eventually but sooner rather than later imo

Vestiapx

KiKi III wrote: »

Pros and cons of illegal cannabis

Pros:
- it’s possible a very small minority of users are put off using based on its illegal status

Cons:
- funds gangs
- no quality standards/ regulation of THC levels
- no age restrictions (dealers will sell to your 14yo, a licensed tobacconist most likely won’t)
- prevents more widespread medicinal use
- means otherwise law-abiding people need a dealer
- gives young people a permanent criminal record for personal use
- massive waste of Garda and judiciary resources prosecuting personal use

Decriminalise it under the Portuguese model.

I'm put off because the older I get the more I don't want to talk to the lads I know that are still in that scene. When I was 16 they were harmless and when I was 23 they were getting their lives together but the ones that can still sort me out are low level hard core at this stage. They have turned a bit of teenage misbehaving into a carear complete with the associated money laundering and true hard core contacts that that means.

doublejobbing 2

Mimon wrote: »

Think it's an opportunity to regulate and get rid of the really strong THC weed that seems to be prevalent.

Don't get it myself and I was a stoner for years. Fecking monged after one toke. Nice to be a bit stoned and be still able to function/talk ****e/have the craic.

Would Irish smokers go for this?

Hash is still out there (or at least was prior to the Covid era), but it is a fairly minority interest these days, any smokers under 30 I know prefer the "buzz" of feeling you have unshakeable brain cancer for 40 minutes that most greenhouse weed knocking about seems to give you.

Horrible, soul sapping stuff.

Ironically, from my interactions with hundreds of mainlanders down the years I would say the Dutch I've met are, proportionately, the least likely to be stoners. Nowhere near the level of French, Spaniards, Italians etc.

Mimon

Mimon wrote: »

Think it's an opportunity to regulate and get rid of the really strong THC weed that seems to be prevalent.

Don't get it myself and I was a stoner for years. Fecking monged after one toke. Nice to be a bit stoned and be still able to function/talk ****e/have the craic.

Ahh well... I was always a lightweight with the more mainstream cannabis that could be found. I was happy with half a joint for the night. All the same when I found weed, everything changed.

I smoke weed sometimes because it helps with my shaking disorder.

IMHO The advantage of regulating it is that there will be greater interest in providing alternatives that don't involve smoking, and the quality will reduce most of the negative side-effects. People are going to continue smoking it regardless, because it's still a cheaper night than alcohol, and doesn't have the buyers remorse afterward.

chrissb8

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Big pharma will never allow it to be legalised here.

Yes. Because tiny Ireland a population of 5 million, is a big concern to Pharmaceutical companies as opposed to states in America or countries over 10 times the population where cannabis was made legal.

But oh no, Ireland will be where the line is drawn.

Cookie_Monster

giles lynchwood wrote: »

Once again my usual post on similar threads.Check out the results in Portugal,number's don't lie.Bring it on I say.A quote I came across lately,"Banning a plant is like saying God was wrong".

Banning a plant was one of the first things he did...

Agent Coulson

I read the title of the thread as Cannibals in Ireland which would have made for a lot more interesting thread.

Eric Cartman

Is it just me or does gino kenny actually look exactly like every time dave mcsavage played a junkie in the savage eye

KiKi III

Vestiapx wrote: »

I'm put off because the older I get the more I don't want to talk to the lads I know that are still in that scene. When I was 16 they were harmless and when I was 23 they were getting their lives together but the ones that can still sort me out are low level hard core at this stage. They have turned a bit of teenage misbehaving into a carear complete with the associated money laundering and true hard core contacts that that means.

If it was legal that wouldn’t have happened though.

jh79

Did the press release come out yet?

drunkmonkey

Is this just an update to the previous announced plan where they direct you to the HSE instead.

https://merrionstreet.ie/merrionstreet/en/news-room/releases/ministers_harris_flanagan_and_byrne_announce_health-led_approach_to_the_possession_of_drugs_for_personal_use.html

gerrybbadd

jh79 wrote: »

Did the press release come out yet?

The only place I've seen this reported on is The Journal, a piece of hot garbage. I wouldn't trust them as far as I'd throw them to be honest. Buzz.ie picked up on it, but they are quoting The Journal.

I see nothing official anywhere on this

dasdog

gerrybbadd wrote: »

The only place I've seen this reported on is The Journal, a piece of hot garbage. I wouldn't trust them as far as I'd throw them to be honest. Buzz.ie picked up on it, but they are quoting The Journal.

I see nothing official anywhere on this

Not seeing anything in the press myself but some incognito searching led me to the garda site and they have released an updated Adult Cautioning Scheme Policy document today.

https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/introduction-of-new-offences-to-the-adult-cautioning-scheme.html

gerrybbadd

dasdog wrote: »

Not seeing anything in the press myself but some incognito searching led me to the garda site and they have released an updated Adult Cautioning Scheme Policy document today.

https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/introduction-of-new-offences-to-the-adult-cautioning-scheme.html

Fantastic, there it is in official text!

DublinWriter

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Big pharma will never allow it to be legalised here.

Conspiracy theories and flights of fancy aside, the VFI would lobby government heavily for this to never happen.

Remember FF is more Publican than Republican party.

jh79

Wonder would thus apply to discreetly growing a couple of plants ?