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UK teen commits suicide after being brought to court over 50p of cannabis

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Comments

  • #212
    EazyD
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,207 ✭✭✭EazyD


    My comment was mainly aimed at posters like Corkbrah who are of the belief that the law is bottom line and until it is changed, such occurrences are perfectly acceptable, if the kid had been caught with alcohol of any sort he might have been told off, but he wouldn't be facing similar ramifications as he was in this case


  • #213
    HondaSami
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,713 ✭✭✭HondaSami


    EazyD wrote: »
    My comment was mainly aimed at posters like Corkbrah who are of the belief that the law is bottom line and until it is changed, such occurrences are perfectly acceptable, if the kid had been caught with alcohol of any sort he might have been told off, but he wouldn't be facing similar ramifications as he was in this case

    What was he facing if it went to court?
    If he was done for public order or theft or anything else should he be giving a warning because he wanted to travel?
    I still don't think he killed himself because of this summons, there must be more going on.


  • #214
    Pace2008
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,587 ✭✭✭Pace2008


    Bloody*Mary wrote: »
    Little bit of over egging there poster.

    It's not that I don't care and blindly follow the law.

    The question was "why was cannabis banned on this isle".

    Now for exactly as I have no idea or have no interest in why 120kmh is the speed limit on motorways,doesn't mean I don't care or don' follow the law.

    I have enough cop on to know that it is there for a reason like the cannabis ban.

    I don't have a lot of interest in the precise reason, if you can pardon me on that
    If you're going to try to get around a permaban with an alt account you might want to make some sort of attempt to change your posting style, m9.


  • #215
    mikom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    Pace2008 wrote: »
    If you're going to try to get around a permaban with an alt account you might want to make some sort of attempt to change your posting style, m9.

    John Q taxpayer approves of this post.


  • #216
    juice1304
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,805 ✭✭✭juice1304


    HondaSami wrote: »
    What was he facing if it went to court?
    If he was done for public order or theft or anything else should he be giving a warning because he wanted to travel?
    I still don't think he killed himself because of this summons, there must be more going on.

    Theft or a public order offence are in a different league and affect others. Would he have gone to court if he was in possession of one can of beer that would be a better comparison and if so what would have been his conviction? The simple answer is he would'nt have been convicted because it would be seen as a ridiculous waste of tax payers money.
    And even if he was convicted of a public order offence he could have moved to america it is only drugs offences that are an automatic ban.


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  • #217
    EazyD
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,207 ✭✭✭EazyD


    HondaSami wrote: »

    What was he facing if it went to court?
    If he was done for public order or theft or anything else should he be giving a warning because he wanted to travel?
    I still don't think he killed himself because of this summons, there must be more going on.
    Being perfectly honest I don't think he was facing much in the form of an actual criminal conviction, however it is quite evident that the summons itself(being found near his body) was a catalyst to the kid taking his life, possibly along with many other problems he was facing. A system that summons anyone, never mind a 17 old kid, for trace amounts of a substance is spectacularly flawed and in need of urgent evaluation.


  • #218
    120_Minutes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,706 ✭✭✭120_Minutes


    Bloody*Mary wrote: »
    That sums up the dangers of drug consumption indeed.

    Especially for that tragic case.

    Except drug consumption didnt kill this kid.

    the worry of conviction due to possession of a tiny amount of cannabis, which frankly he should have been given a caution for, is what drove him to suicide.

    try to keep up.


  • #219
    con___manx1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,719 ✭✭✭con___manx1


    the cop should have just dropped the bit of weed down the drain or something.I feel sorry for the poor kid.he had his whole life in front of him just 17 years of age.

    its ridiculous the amount of money our and the uk government spends cracking down on this drug and why the hell did the uk government upgrade it to a higher class of drug. They should be using there resources to crack down on the harder drugs that are addictive and kill people such as cocaine,heroin and so on.

    I am aware of the negative effects of prolonged cannabis use and I dont believe it too be any worse than abuse of alcohol which is legal.

    In Vancouver Canada if the cops catch anyone with weed they will take it off them that's it. they should do the same in Ireland and the uk and stop giving people criminal records for carrying around a little bit of a plant instead of giving them a criminal record and ruining there lives.


  • #220
    HondaSami
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,713 ✭✭✭HondaSami


    EazyD wrote: »
    Being perfectly honest I don't think he was facing much in the form of an actual criminal conviction, however it is quite evident that the summons itself(being found near his body) was a catalyst to the kid taking his life, possibly along with many other problems he was facing. A system that summons anyone, never mind a 17 old kid, for trace amounts of a substance is spectacularly flawed and in need of urgent evaluation.

    No system is perfect, mistakes happen. If he told his parents they could have sorted it out with the police/court.
    I cannot understand why he kept it to himself, this to me is the biggest problem not the cop who summoned him.


  • #221
    mikom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    con___manx1 wrote: »

    its ridiculous the amount of money our and the uk government spends cracking down on this drug and why the hell did the uk government upgrade it to a higher class of drug.

    The former home Secretary even regrets it.
    Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has admitted the change in the legal status of cannabis she introduced caused "confusion and dissent".

    The politician, who resigned from the cabinet in the wake of the expenses scandal and later lost her seat in the 2010 election, was criticised at the time by her own scientific advisers when she upgraded the legal status of the drug from class C to class B - bringing in a tougher line against users and dealers.

    She told the Radio Times: "I'm more sympathetic now to the argument that there are people who use cannabis without harm. I don't want tough messages being sent out by the law always translated into tough action against individuals."

    Ms Smith was interviewed by the magazine ahead of a Radio 5 Live documentary on the issue which she is presenting next week.

    She said: "From the people I've talked to in this programme, I know that it (the reclassification) also caused confusion and dissent.

    "Was that worth the positive impacts of the change in law that I introduced? I'm no longer sure it was.

    "I don't believe in decriminalisation or legalisation. But knowing what I know now, I would resist the temptation to resort to the law to tackle the harm from cannabis. Education, treatment and information, if we can get the message through, are perhaps a lot more effective."

    This is not the first time Ms Smith has gone on air to examine an aspect of her political career. Last year she presented a documentary about pornography.

    The former Home Secretary was caught up in the expenses scandal after charging taxpayers for the cost of two adult movies watched by her husband.

    The programme, Stoned Again, will be broadcast on Radio 5 Live at 10pm on Thursday November 29

    http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/drugs-law-change-caused-confusion-16239836.html#ixzz2Cj36OCA2


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  • #222
    ScumLord
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,787 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    My name is URL wrote: »
    I'm always a bit weary of this kind of story. Is it just being assumed that's why he killed himself? I mean how unthinkable is it that he may have suffered from depression? Nobody in a healthy state of mind would take their life over such a thing. And it's not something that should be used by groups to further their own agendas.
    Having been in his position court and jail were the least of my worries. Being from a small town and a "close knit" community the scorn of the righteous mob was a much bigger worry. "Close knit" communities tend to turn on those they see as beneath them and it's something that would follow you around a lot longer than any prison sentence.
    Bloody*Mary wrote: »
    That sums up the dangers of drug consumption indeed.
    It doesn't at all. It shows that the punishments far outweigh the crime in my opinion. Although in my opinion no crime was committed.
    Bloody*Mary wrote: »
    It's not that I don't care and blindly follow the law.

    The question was "why was cannabis banned on this isle".

    Now for exactly as I have no idea or have no interest in why
    That's blindly obeying the law and is a bit dumb. nobody should be willing to just accept what they're told. Especially citizens of a democratic republic. It would be like the CEO of a company not caring about the bottom line at the end of the year.

    I hate blind acceptance of the law. The law is a set of agreements to protect society at large. Drug laws have made society worse in every measurable way, no one should just accept that.


  • #223
    AudreyHepburn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,673 ✭✭✭AudreyHepburn


    120_Minutes wrote: »
    Except drug consumption didnt kill this kid.

    the worry of conviction due to possession of a tiny amount of cannabis, which frankly he should have been given a caution for, is what drove him to suicide.

    try to keep up.

    I never said the drugs killed the kid. The kid killed himself sadly.

    What I said was he likely had serious mental health problems which using drugs would not have helped. The stress of the arrest may have been the final straw but I think we all understand that there was more to it than that.

    So no the conviction didn't kill him anymore than the policeman or the drugs or the worry did.


  • #224
    juice1304
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,805 ✭✭✭juice1304


    The reason he killed himself was because he could'nt go to ameerica. You don't need to have mental problems to kill yourself.


  • #225
    7 7 12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 185 ✭✭7 7 12


    In all fairness, ( And I am someone who would love to see cannabis legalized to ease pressure on the judicial system and free up valuable garda resources ) but if your desire to travel to the USA is number 1 priority in your life, then why voluntarily behave in ways that could jeopardize that?


  • #226
    ScumLord
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,787 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    7 7 12 wrote: »
    but if your desire to travel to the USA is number 1 priority in your life, then why voluntarily behave in ways that could jeopardize that?
    Talking negatively about American war efforts around the world could technically jeopardise your ability to get into the states. Where do you draw the line when it comes to your freedom to live your life against the possible outcome of running into the wrong people one day?


  • #227
    Wattle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,075 ✭✭✭Wattle


    AudreyHepburn wrote: »
    I never said the drugs killed the kid. The kid killed himself sadly.

    What I said was he likely had serious mental health problems which using drugs would not have helped. The stress of the arrest may have been the final straw but I think we all understand that there was more to it than that.

    So no the conviction didn't kill him anymore than the policeman or the drugs or the worry did.

    Wait a minute. This kid was headboy at his school and a Lacrosse international. Sounds like he was doing pretty well in life despite (according to you) having serious mental health problems.


  • #228
    Rangi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 129 ✭✭Rangi


    Drug usage kills. We knew this half a century and more ago. How are we still debating it?


  • #229
    Wattle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,075 ✭✭✭Wattle


    What I'm saying is that this kid seems to have been able to lead a full and successful life despite smoking cannabis.


  • #230
    Wattle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,075 ✭✭✭Wattle


    Rangi wrote: »
    Drug usage kills. We knew this half a century and more ago. How are we still debating it?

    Cannabis never killed anybody. How do you not know this?


  • #231
    kowloon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 14,187 ✭✭✭✭kowloon


    B.A._Baracus wrote: »
    What kind of copper would arrest someone for 50p worth (seriously, the size of a grain of rice or something!?)

    Scumbag.

    What kind of cop can see 50p of cannabis with the naked eye?! :eek:


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  • #232
    7 7 12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 185 ✭✭7 7 12


    Rangi wrote: »
    Drug usage kills. We knew this half a century and more ago. How are we still debating it?
    Nobody is debating that drugs can potentially kill you, especially when sold by complete scum in an uncontrolled market with no quality control.don't see how it's relevant here though


  • #233
    HondaSami
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,713 ✭✭✭HondaSami


    Wattle wrote: »
    What I'm saying is that this kid seems to have been able to lead a full and successful life despite smoking cannabis.

    Lost of people lead a normal life but still commit suicide, no one knows what problems he had.


  • #234
    ScumLord
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,787 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    Wattle wrote: »
    What I'm saying is that this kid seems to have been able to lead a full and successful life despite smoking cannabis.
    Drug abuse can kill. Drug use has been common throughout human history.


  • #235
    Wattle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,075 ✭✭✭Wattle


    ScumLord wrote: »
    Drug abuse can kill. Drug use has been common throughout human history.

    We're talking about Cannabis here and a rudimentary bit of research will show you that Cannabis has never killed anybody.


  • #236
    Wattle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,075 ✭✭✭Wattle


    HondaSami wrote: »
    Lost of people lead a normal life but still commit suicide, no one knows what problems he had.

    Yep that's true but speculating that cannabis was the smoking gun here is just that. Speculation.


  • #237
    Madam_X
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,327 ✭✭✭Madam_X


    Wattle wrote: »
    What I'm saying is that this kid seems to have been able to lead a full and successful life despite smoking cannabis.
    Misunderstood you - thought you meant these things wouldn't be possible if he was mentally ill to the point of suicidal.

    Maybe the despair that led to his suicide was shortlived, maybe it was going on for a long time, maybe smoking cannabis damaged his mental wellbeing, maybe it didn't - maybe he wasn't doing too well in that regard anyway... lots of maybes, we just don't know.


  • #238
    HondaSami
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,713 ✭✭✭HondaSami


    Wattle wrote: »
    Yep that's true but speculating that cannabis was the smoking gun here is just that. Speculation.

    Only the kid himself knows why he committed suicide everything else is speculation.


  • #239
    ScumLord
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,787 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    Wattle wrote: »
    We're talking about Cannabis here and a rudimentary bit of research will show you that Cannabis has never killed anybody.
    Sorry meant to quote Rangi above you.


  • #240
    mikom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    Truth be told....... The most dangerous thing about cannabis is being caught in possession.


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  • #241
    Wattle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,075 ✭✭✭Wattle


    Madam_X wrote: »
    Misunderstood you - thought you meant these things wouldn't be possible if he was mentally ill to the point of suicidal.

    Maybe the despair that led to his suicide was shortlived, maybe it was going on for a long time, maybe smoking cannabis damaged his mental wellbeing, maybe it didn't - maybe he wasn't doing too well in that regard anyway... lots of maybes, we just don't know.

    To me it sounds like he was not your archetypal lazy feckless stoner. If anything he sounds like an achiever. Maybe the heavy handed policing and the prospect of having a conviction following him for the rest of his days might have pushed him over the edge? I realise that that is speculation but it sounds like a more likely explanation than blaming cannabis.


This discussion has been closed.
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