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Blind man asks to be charged with cannabis possession to challenge law

124

Comments

  • #92
    mikom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    January February March April wrote: »
    I went to a certain carwash in Santry (I won't say which one) and it was ****. My car is making a funny noise after coming out of it and the car is still fucking dirty. I was essentially robbed of 6 Euro. Thieving scum.

    OK..........................?


  • #93
    Kurtosis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,881 ✭✭✭Kurtosis


    Definitely feel for the man, chronic pain is one of the worst conditions you can have.

    Regardless of the outcome of his case, it was reported last year that the government plans to make cannabis-based medicines available so he hopefully should be able to legally access his treatment soon.


  • #94
    Arthur Beesley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,537 ✭✭✭Arthur Beesley


    bajer101 wrote: »
    Did you read the article? Cannabis helps relieve the phantom pain caused by losing his eyes. There are also studies that show that cannabis could have actually helped treat the initial condition that resulted in him losing his sight. It is also good propaganda in that the law as it stands will result in a blind man being jailed for using an illegal substance for pain relief.

    No, I didn't bother.

    So there is nothing legal to relieve his pain? I'm assuming he partakes of the cannabis on a regular basis in the comfort of his own home, why is he wasting tax payer money with this ****e?


  • #95
    bajer101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,178 ✭✭✭bajer101


    Arthur Beesley wrote: »
    No, I didn't bother.

    So there is nothing legal to relieve his pain? I'm assuming he partakes of the cannabis on a regular basis in the comfort of his own home, why is he wasting tax payer money with this ****e?

    Why are you wasting my time with this ****e?


  • #96
    Arthur Beesley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,537 ✭✭✭Arthur Beesley


    bajer101 wrote: »
    Why are you wasting my time with this ****e?

    Because I'm annoyed at the waste of taxpayer money this will lead to. I don't need to read the article to know that.


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  • #97
    mikom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    Arthur Beesley wrote: »
    Because I'm annoyed at the waste of taxpayer money this will lead to. I don't need to read the article to know that.

    Yeah, it's right up there with fellas being hauled in weekly over ten spots, TV licences..........


  • #98
    bajer101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,178 ✭✭✭bajer101


    Arthur Beesley wrote: »
    Because I'm annoyed at the waste of taxpayer money this will lead to. I don't need to read the article to know that.

    So your mind is already made up and no challenge to existing legislation is worthwhile if it is made at the taxpayer's expense? If a gay man had handed himself into the Gardai 30 years ago and said that he had had sex with another man in an attempt to be arrested so that he could challenge the prevailing law at taxpayers expense - would you have been similarly outraged?

    Is your argument that people without private means to challenge existing laws should be prevented from making such challenges, or do you just have a problem with this particular challenge? If it's just the latter, then it's just a case of someone who has a different viewpoint than you bringing a perfectly valid challenge. The fact that the majority of people would actually agree with him means that as a voting member of a democracy, you should actually support him.


  • #99
    Arthur Beesley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,537 ✭✭✭Arthur Beesley


    bajer101 wrote: »
    So your mind is already made up and no challenge to existing legislation is worthwhile if it is made at the taxpayer's expense? If a gay man had handed himself into the Gardai 30 years ago and said that he had had sex with another man in an attempt to be arrested so that he could challenge the prevailing law at taxpayers expense - would you have been similarly outraged?

    Is your argument that people without private means to challenge existing laws should be prevented from making such challenges, or do you just have a problem with this particular challenge? If it's just the latter, then it's just a case of someone who has a different viewpoint than you bringing a perfectly valid challenge. The fact that the majority of people would actually agree with him means that as a voting member of a democracy, you should actually support him.

    You think the majority of voters in Ireland agree with him?


  • #100
    Arthur Beesley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,537 ✭✭✭Arthur Beesley


    mikom wrote: »
    Yeah, it's right up there with fellas being hauled in weekly over ten spots, TV licences..........

    Do you have a TV? If so you should have a TV licence. Simples.


  • #101
    bajer101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,178 ✭✭✭bajer101


    Arthur Beesley wrote: »
    You think the majority of voters in Ireland agree with him?

    Yes. The latest polls show that the majority of people agree that cannabis should be legalised for medicinal use. Do you not think that if a vote was put to the people tomorrow about whether this man should be allowed to take cannabis to relieve his pain, that the majority would vote to allow him? They most likely would, and that is just one of many reasons why this is not a waste of taxpayers money.


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  • #102
    Juan_Mata
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 366 ✭✭Juan_Mata


    Why is it of relevance that he is blind?


  • #103
    zenno
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,377 ✭✭✭zenno


    Well my spine was damaged many years ago and the cannabis works wonders for the pain. It basically makes me pain-free, it just relaxes the part of my spine in such a way to make it free from pain.

    I'd be lost without the herb, so I wish the guy the best of luck regarding his endeavour.


  • #104
    mikom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    Juan_Mata wrote: »
    Why is it of relevance that he is blind?

    Has anyone read the article or watched the additional video?


  • #105
    mikom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    Arthur Beesley wrote: »
    Do you have a TV? If so you should have a TV licence. Simples.

    Great comeback.


  • #106
    Arthur Beesley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,537 ✭✭✭Arthur Beesley


    mikom wrote: »
    Has anyone read the article or watched the additional video?

    No, other than you presumably.


  • #107
    mikom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    Arthur Beesley wrote: »
    No, other than you presumably.

    The blind lad is making better headway at reading it than a certain few riddlers here.


  • #108
    Arthur Beesley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,537 ✭✭✭Arthur Beesley


    mikom wrote: »
    The blind lad is making better headway at reading it than a certain few riddlers here.

    He probably has a screen reader.


  • #109
    mikom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    Arthur Beesley wrote: »
    He probably has a screen reader.

    See if you can borrow it.


  • #110
    Arthur Beesley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,537 ✭✭✭Arthur Beesley


    mikom wrote: »
    Great comeback.

    Who said anything about a 'comeback'. Do you have a TV?


  • #111
    Arthur Beesley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,537 ✭✭✭Arthur Beesley


    mikom wrote: »
    See if you can borrow it.

    Why?


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  • #112
    Arthur Beesley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,537 ✭✭✭Arthur Beesley


    bajer101 wrote: »
    Yes. The latest polls show that the majority of people agree that cannabis should be legalised for medicinal use. Do you not think that if a vote was put to the people tomorrow about whether this man should be allowed to take cannabis to relieve his pain, that the majority would vote to allow him? They most likely would, and that is just one of many reasons why this is not a waste of taxpayers money.

    I wasn't aware if this. Any links?


  • #113
    Mr. Incognito
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,798 ✭✭✭Mr. Incognito


    Legal aid is there to ensure the poor are not prejudiced against a defence not to clog up the courts with moral solo runs,

    If he doesn't like a law lobby your TD. Don't waste the over stretched courts using public resources.

    If you don't like a law vote for TDs that reflect your views. It's called democracy. And I believe in legalising cannabis but not through by bullying judges to deal with your agenda on the public purse.

    From a legal perspective judges enforce the laws in place. This challenge has no hope.


  • #114
    FunLover18
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,793 ✭✭✭FunLover18


    bajer101 wrote: »
    The fact that the majority of people would actually agree with him means that as a voting member of a democracy, you should actually support him.

    Just a little off-topic aside, this isn't exactly how democracy works.


  • #115
    bajer101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,178 ✭✭✭bajer101


    Mr. Incognito wrote: »
    Legal aid is there to ensure the poor are not prejudiced against a defence not to clog up the courts with moral solo runs,

    Says you. If he is successful in mounting a challenge using this method, then it will show that he using the Legal Aid process in perfect accordance with the law. If you have a problem with that - take it up with your local TD!

    I do happen to agree with his cause, but even if I didn't I would applaud him for his innovative way of bringing a challenge.


  • #116
    bajer101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,178 ✭✭✭bajer101


    Arthur Beesley wrote: »
    I wasn't aware if this. Any links?

    Sorry, missed this earlier. At the time of of Ming's petition journal.ie did a poll which came out in favour of not just legalising cannabis for medicinal use, but also for full legalising. While it's not definitive and undoubtedly overly represents the views of younger voters - it is still a very valid portrayal of how Irish people now view the subject of cannabis illegality.

    http://www.thejournal.ie/poll-cannabis-legalisation-1144648-Oct2013/


  • #117
    Mr. Incognito
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,798 ✭✭✭Mr. Incognito


    bajer101 wrote: »
    Says you. If he is successful in mounting a challenge using this method, then it will show that he using the Legal Aid process in perfect accordance with the law. If you have a problem with that - take it up with your local TD!

    I do happen to agree with his cause, but even if I didn't I would applaud him for his innovative way of bringing a challenge.

    He will not be successful. It will go district court, court of criminal appeal then die. He could try article 8/9 to Europe but it has a dim view on being allowed take challenges based on narcotics. http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2010/dec/18/eu_court_okays_dutch_coffee_shop

    In short, it is naive and misguided at best.

    Abuse of process and a waste of time at best.

    I think if you believe this is a "perfect" use of legal aid you don't understand why it was established in the first place. There is nothing innovative about this


  • #118
    bajer101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,178 ✭✭✭bajer101


    Mr. Incognito wrote: »
    He will not be successful. It will go district court, court of criminal appeal then die. He could try article 8/9 to Europe but it has a dim view on being allowed take challenges based on narcotics. http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2010/dec/18/eu_court_okays_dutch_coffee_shop

    In short, it is naive and misguided at best.

    Abuse of process and a waste of time at best.

    I think if you believe this is a "perfect" use of legal aid you don't understand why it was established in the first place. There is nothing innovative about this

    If he is granted Legal Aid for his case, then ipso facto, it is a perfectly valid use of the Legal Aid system. Just because you think that his challenge falls outside the spirit of the legislation is irrelevant. Laws don't work on the basis of individual's interpretations. As an aside, if you believe that his use of the Legal Aid system falls outside the function of the Legal Aid system, then by definition it is most definitely innovative.

    I do agree, that his challenge will probably fail. But so what! Marie Fleming's challenge also failed but increased the public's knowledge of the subject and sparked a debate. This is how laws get changed. A brave individual brings a challenge using whatever means available and we all start talking about it. In a hundred years time the laws about assisted suicide and medicinal cannabis will have changed in this country and it is people like Marie Fleming and Mark Fitzsomons who will have paved the way. You just have to chip, chip away at what you perceive as unjust laws. Just because you believe your challenge will fail is no reason not to mount them. If that was the case - well then, no laws would ever be repealed.


  • #119
    zenno
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,377 ✭✭✭zenno


    It's gaining more public attention regarding the need for medicinal cannabis acceptance, so it's good either way ;) It's just one of those long ladders we have to climb.
    They battle outside raging, will soon shake your windows and rattle your walls for the times they are a changin.


  • #120
    ScumLord
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,787 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    Mr. Incognito wrote: »
    If he doesn't like a law lobby your TD. Don't waste the over stretched courts using public resources.
    A major reason the courts are clogged up is because of the law he is challenging. He's highlighting the issue further by going through the process so we can all see the big broken machine of law crank out another misguided and harmful sentence.


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  • #121
    frag420
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,161 ✭✭✭frag420


    Local campaigner Mark Fitzsimons is to put himself forward for European elections on the back of the ‘enormous response’ to him handing himself into Dundalk Garda Station with a quantity of cannabis.

    http://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/local-news/mark-launches-euro-election-campaign-after-whirlwind-response-to-cannabis-stance-1-5836830


    I wish him well...


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