Marijuana time-frame

I've a couple of cousins in the guards and they've been saying for years that that vast majority of guards 40 and under would be in favour of legalising drugs; criminals would lose control of the market, the govt make more money from taxing it, safer drugs available for people who are gonna take drugs anyway and they'd get to do proper police work.

Which according to them would be going after high level white-collar crime instead of arresting kids with hash

They both said it's a matter of time, but it's the electorate holding it back.

Personally, I think Ireland's quite a liberal country, but not liberal in how we vote; we're kind of ah sure as long as nobody's being harmed it's grand, but when it comes to changing laws we're pretty slow when it comes to social change, homosexuality was illegal for an awful long time, there was no divorce until not so long as ago and even still you need to be broken up for a few years before you can get one. Abortion.

So, it'll probably be when the 60+ generation dies off before we see these changes.

Personally I think Ireland should be following what Portugal have been doing regarding drugs.

Ronald Wilson Reagan wrote: »

Smoking weed carries similar health risks to that of tobacco.

There are more options than just smoking it.

skywanderer wrote: »

Meanwhile over in the Philippines newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte has waged an unrelentless campaign against Drugs and corruption since getting elected in May. Nearly 1,000 have so far been killed by the Police, he is restoring the Death Penalty and has pledged to kill 100,000 people in his drive to end corruption and drugs in his country. Drugs are a huge problem and the main driver of criminality and I think there should be minimum mandatory Prison sentences for possession and the Death Penalty for all drug dealers. People who do drugs are wasters who contribute nothing by misery to society and should be routed out just like this guy is doing over there.

(NSFW: Dead bodies)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3725250/Philippines-president-Rodrigo-Duterte-message-dealers-death-toll-war-drugs-rises-400.html

Isn't greed the main driver of criminality? You think the Death Penalty is fair punishment for selling a bit of weed?

I'm guessing it will be no later than the end of the 2020s. Most people under 50 know it is not harmful (unless abused, but that's no different with alcohol), and personally I wish the government had done so years and years ago, and ran it themselves (Canada do the same with booze - you can only buy in government shops called Beer Store, Wine Rack or LCBO). It is incredibly profitable, they can keep the prices reasonably high, and a gang of chung fellas getting stoned in the park is not ideal, but a lot less volatile than hammering back shoulders of vodka.

In Toronto there have been places popping up where you don't need a doctors prescription but instead only need to become a 'member' with them, which involves filling a 2 page form and speaking with a 'medical expert' (homeopath) who OKs you or not. I doubt they've ever said no to anyone who wasn't a) a raving lunatic or b) telling them they wanted to resell it or something other stupid. It turns out that that setup is still illegal (though the reckoning is it will be fully legal within 6-12 months, so these guys are taking risks to get the market share early), but the police turn a blind eye outside of a raid ever 3-4 months to keep face. Because let's face it, people are going to get it if they want it and it's as simple as that... it's better they are getting it in a place that is tracking their usage and is operating as a legitimate business with friendly service staff, etc rather than getting it off some dodgy lad on the street.

Another huge advantage as someone who smokes occasionally (had sleep problems since I was a kid, so if it's 3am and I'm wide awake... that's why I keep a gram of it hidden away in a smell proof container . It is a f*** tonne better than sleeping pills, which are flat out evil), is you know exactly the strain you are getting. Long story short for those unaware, there is indica - which gets you stoned/vegetated and to sleep - this is I think the more common one in Ireland. But there is also sativa - which makes you alert and more 'high' - which you can smoke a bit of and go play football or frisbee or whatnot, and be fully active and productive on. They also sell in edible forms and capsules, which take a good 1-2 hours to kick in but have a longer, more steady and lasting effect through the day, depending on the strength of edible you buy (think a 'coffee' caffeine high for edibles, vs a 'red bull' high for a joint/pipe/whatever).

I know a few people who have been caught smoking weed by the police over here. One guy had his $10 bag of it taken off but no name etc taken, the rest were asked to put it out or to make sure they put the roach/butt in the bin. They're very lax towards it, and it's beneficial if you ask me - civilian/police relations are pretty solid here.

From a 'personal interest' point of view though I don't smoke often, I would say it should be legalised. More importantly though, from a sheer economic point of view, I would say it has to be legalised. The US states that have done so have been benefiting massively from it, a lot more are trying to follow in their tracks, and once the US and/or UK goes for it, I don't think we're far behind. Our older generation might be very conservative (albeit thankfully not in the nasty way, typically) but as the SSM referendum showed, they (or at least the conservatism) are dying off and our younger generations are very liberal and open to reason. There is an immensely powerful argument to be made for legalisation, and I just hope whoever leads it out makes it well.