So is Marijuana to be legalized in Ireland shortly?

Grayson · 26-01-2016 05:03PM

Hammer89 wrote: »

I thought it was already distributed medicinally here. I was referring to recreational use.

It's still not legal for medicinal use. They allowed the first derivative made by a pharmaceutical company to be made available about two years ago. It's not as good as the real thing though and it's the only brand they ever made available as far as I know. Don't know what they're afraid of. Maybe it's all those people on chemo and with MS getting drugged up and going on wild crime sprees.

Custardpi · 26-01-2016 05:10PM

Grayson wrote: »

It's still not legal for medicinal use. They allowed the first derivative made by a pharmaceutical company to be made available about two years ago. It's not as good as the real thing though and it's the only brand they ever made available as far as I know. Don't know what they're afraid of. Maybe it's all those people on chemo and with MS getting drugged up and going on wild crime sprees.

80+ years of tabloid "reefer madness" stories are hard to dispel with mere objective evidence & reason. I think the tide of public opinion is changing though.

Mesrine65 · 26-01-2016 05:13PM

seamus wrote: »

My understanding is that there are EU restrictions preventing member states from legalising recreational drugs.

Portugal?

Custardpi · 26-01-2016 05:20PM

Portugal has merely decriminalised it, it just means you won't be arrested for possessing it.

Huntergonzo · 26-01-2016 05:32PM

Cannabis laws across much of the world are a total farce and Ireland is no different, sadly though we tend to be a step or two behind Europe when it comes to social issues, which is very lazy, dismissive and disrespectful of our politicians.

But look there's a general election coming up and politicians are going to be knocking on people's doors asking them for votes so let them know that our cannabis laws are unacceptable and dismiss out of hand any tired old rhetoric about how 'dangerous' cannabis is, especially if the politician claims never to have tried cannabis themselves.

Ps, is there a single party calling for cannabis legalization or even just decriminalisation?

JackieBauer · 26-01-2016 05:38PM

It's not going to happen while most states in the USA and the UK is opposed to it. Simple.

ScumLord · 26-01-2016 05:46PM

JackieBauer wrote: »

It's not going to happen while most states in the USA and the UK is opposed to it. Simple.

There seems to be an effort to get all of the Americas on board in cannabis legalisation. There's a few south American countries that have changed their laws, Mexico is looking at legislation as a continuation of the attack on organised crime, which is already suffering because of legalisation happening across the states. I think America is going to go for full on legalisation across the nation. Canada has never been all that though on cannabis and is set to change the laws for legalisation.

Huntergonzo · 26-01-2016 05:50PM

JackieBauer wrote: »

It's not going to happen while most states in the USA and the UK is opposed to it. Simple.

Even when they do legalize we'll still be well behind them. Ireland sort of has an image of copying Britain's laws and legislation, which is only half correct, we tend to copy their conservative moves and ignore any liberal laws they introduce.

Sadly it's fair to say we're not going to take the initiative or set any examples when it comes to legalising Cannabis in Europe, as always we'll be well behind the pack.

ScumLord · 26-01-2016 06:02PM

Huntergonzo wrote: »

Sadly it's fair to say we're not going to take the initiative or set any examples when it comes to legalising Cannabis in Europe, as always we'll be well behind the pack.

Which is a real pity, the cannabis industry has the potential to be a massive earner. Not just from the point of view of growing and selling recreational cannabis, but it would hopefully open up the hemp industry which would be a great money earner for Irish farmers, there's also the fact hemp production would make growing illegal cannabis more difficult (pollen from hemp could potentially contaminate recreational grows making them worthless).

If Ireland could get ahead of the game and establish a brand Ireland with relation to cannabis for recreational use and hemp for the comercial sector we might stand a chance on the global markets.

Hemp can help reduce our reliance on oil based products. It could be a huge and environmentally friendly industry that has absolutely nothing to do with drugs.

Hammer89 · 26-01-2016 07:31PM

weisses wrote: »

What about alcohol ...... the hypocrisy

No actually there's no hypocrisy mate. I specifically said that my view on the drug was based on my experiences of using it. If alcohol gave me countless panic attacks and turned my short-term memory to absolute sh*t then I wouldn't want my children touching that either.

Mesrine65 · 26-01-2016 07:39PM

Hammer89 wrote: »

No actually there's no hypocrisy mate. I specifically said that my view on the drug was based on my experiences of using it. If alcohol gave me countless panic attacks and turned my short-term memory to absolute sh*t then I wouldn't want my children touching that either.

If it affected you in that way then you were wise to knock it on the head IMHO

On the other hand, I've smoked it daily for 30+ years & it doesn't affect me in that way at all, it focuses me, in that if I'm brewing beer or rebuilding a motorcycle engine, I'm more focused on the task at hand, plus it gives me a happy, relaxed buzz as well.

I have a very good friend who is an absolute gentleman, give him more than 3 pints & he turns into a beserker...

Conclusion...some people don't react well to certain things that others would have no adverse affect to.

turnikett1 · 26-01-2016 08:07PM

Well folk can be as anti-cannabis legalization as they want, but no there's no denying it, cannabis WILL be legalized in most if not all Western (and further?) societies within the next 30 years or so... It's already slowly begun. I will happily sit, be patient and smoke spliffs in the meantime

Our day will come.

Grayson · 26-01-2016 08:20PM

Hammer89 wrote: »

No actually there's no hypocrisy mate. I specifically said that my view on the drug was based on my experiences of using it. If alcohol gave me countless panic attacks and turned my short-term memory to absolute sh*t then I wouldn't want my children touching that either.

To be fair, alcohol does that to a lot of people. The amount who have no recollection of the day beforehand is quite a lot.

I do smoke but I hardly smoke anymore. I don't like getting wasted. Because I hardly smoke, and because the stuff on sale is so strong, I get really stoned when I smoke now. I'd really like to get my hands on some really weak grass. The kind of stuff that would give me a mild buzz. That's never going to happen now though and that's part of the danger of illegal grass. If it were sold in shops I'd have my pick but not from my local dealer.

warpdrive · 26-01-2016 08:25PM

Honestly, would it be acceptable to bring the canvassers into your home and sit them down and have them watch videos like the one of the child with epilepsy that was successfully treated with CBD oil? And the one about Charlotte's Web?

Then ask them to seriously discuss their views on cannabis, at least for medicinal use.

darkpagandeath · 26-01-2016 08:28PM

People go mental over E cigs can you imagine someone lighting a spliff on the bus or in public ?? Think of the Children !

Mesrine65 · 26-01-2016 08:31PM

darkpagandeath wrote: »

People go mental over E cigs can you imagine someone lighting a spliff on the bus or in public ?? Think of the Children !

Never been on Dublin Bus route 27 I take it?

Spliffing on the top deck to their hearts content & not a word uttered.

Out of order IMHO, do it in your own home by all means, anything else is piss-taking.

BorneTobyWilde · 26-01-2016 08:32PM

After that handball in the world cup I should think not.

Arghus · 26-01-2016 08:37PM

seamus wrote: »

Cannabis and marijuana don't really fall within this bracket. These come from the plant with minimal processing apart from drying and chopping so the need to "regulate" them is no more than the need to regulate alcohol.

This is not the same for the vast majority of other drugs which are taken in a powdered or pill form. In these cases they need to either be industrially synthesised or processed, which increases the cost, and therefore which induces the producers to cut corners.

With cannabis there's not a lot you can do to "cut corners" and make it cheaper ....

Yes and no.

I know after buying weed for years that what you can pick up can vary greatly from one experience to another, even if you buy it consistently from one source. There can be many links on the chain before it reaches you.

Sometimes you can be lucky or know someone directly who can offer you completely unadulterated cannabis: in that case you're onto a good thing. But even some people who might have "good stuff" one week, can have absolute garbage the following week.

Cannabis can very much be tampered with, beyond drying and cutting, and it frequently is. You might hear people talking about buying weed that has been "sprayed" i.e. - it's been literally sprayed with all kind of unknown chemicals and god knows what else to make it, for example, smell more pungent or mimic the effects of THC. And all this is connected to the forces of supply and demand and isn't all together too dissimilar to the cases of all other illegal drugs - there's a profit to be made in adultarating your product, if you only have a limited supply and people will, a lot of the time, buy whatever they can get.

Mesrine65 · 26-01-2016 08:40PM

Arghus wrote: »

Yes and no.

I know after buying weed for years that what you can pick up can vary greatly from one experience to another, even if you buy it consistently from one source. There can be many links on the chain before it reaches you.

Sometimes you can be lucky or know someone directly who can offer you completely unadulterated cannabis: in that case you're onto a good thing. But even some people who might have "good stuff" one week, can have absolute garbage the following week.

Cannabis can very much be tampered with, beyond drying and cutting, and it frequently is. You might hear people talking about buying weed that has been "sprayed" i.e. - it's been literally sprayed with all kind of unknown chemicals and god knows what else to make it, for example, smell more pungent or mimic the effects of THC. And all this is connected to the forces of supply and demand and isn't all together too dissimilar to the cases of all other illegal drugs - there's a profit to be made in adultarating your product, if you only have a limited supply and people will, a lot of the time, buy whatever they can get.

Grow your own, the only option for quality & consistency.

warpdrive · 26-01-2016 08:48PM

Mesrine65 wrote: »

Grow your own, the only option for quality & consistency.

Best solution to avoiding possibly harmful additives from scumbag dealers. But still, no real way of knowing the true makeup of each harvest with regards to THC content.

Grayson · 26-01-2016 09:18PM

warpdrive wrote: »

Best solution to avoiding possibly harmful additives from scumbag dealers. But still, no real way of knowing the true makeup of each harvest with regards to THC content.

You'll have a good idea based on the strain that's grown.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 26-01-2016 09:34PM

Custardpi wrote: »

80+ years of tabloid "reefer madness" stories are hard to dispel with mere objective evidence & reason. I think the tide of public opinion is changing though.

You mean all the older people are dying :P

I don't get why smoking hasn't been banned.

Custardpi · 26-01-2016 10:30PM

Joel Nervous Scabies wrote: »

You mean all the older people are dying :P

I don't get why smoking hasn't been banned.

Smoking hasn't been banned because

a: It has become part of the culture to an extent that cannabis never did or probably will even in the event of legalisation. People who would be horrified by the thought of illegal narcotics consider it perfectly normal to smoke 40 a day & would react angrily to any attempt to ban them, though they've gotten used to the regular price hikes.

& more importantly

b: The revenue from cigarette taxation is extremely high. Getting rid of that would be a serious blow to government coffers, even taking into account spending on taxation. Indeed, some have argued (not 100% sure on the figures myself so can't confirm this) that the rate of tax imposed on them now is driving smokers into the arms of black market sellers, possibly leaving the government worse off than they were before in terms of tax take while not reducing smokers number that much at all.

Bongalongherb · 26-01-2016 10:55PM

Cannabis will never be legal in Ireland for recreational use as far as I can see. The governments we have are too backward to ever legalise it.

I'm off the cannabis myself now a few weeks because the crap being sold is too bad, the strains are all mixed and different each week and all you're doing is wasting money on crap weed. I personally can't see myself smoking it again in the future either unless it is made legal and I know what strain I am getting. I have to say though, I do feel much better not smoking it now, and more motivated. I don't even like the strains they sell on the street, just pure muck.

I just hope one day that it is made legal, at least then I can purchase clean cannabis of the strains I do like. Here's hoping.

Bongalongherb · 26-01-2016 10:56PM

I'm going to miss walking up this road stoned on some nice Sativa. Ah well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PCllDihIyc

WarZ · 27-01-2016 02:06AM

Apparently if a Garda is not wearing his hat and you've under an ounce of ganja on you then by law he has to roll you the joint and say 'here you go' in gaelige while handing it over. It's an outdated law but mad nonetheless!

PucaMama · 27-01-2016 02:37AM

weisses wrote: »

Big pharma lobbying politicians is a fact .. Maybe look into these things a bit more

In Ireland yeah?

Ming was never that influential.....

seamus · 27-01-2016 10:37AM

warpdrive wrote: »

Best solution to avoiding possibly harmful additives from scumbag dealers. But still, no real way of knowing the true makeup of each harvest with regards to THC content.

That's not really all that important though. The calculated dose for overdose is impossible to consume for all practical purposes.

So while it means the potency of what you're growing can vary, there's no possibility that you can grow something dangerous.

Arghus wrote: »

Cannabis can very much be tampered with, beyond drying and cutting, and it frequently is. You might hear people talking about buying weed that has been "sprayed" i.e. - it's been literally sprayed with all kind of unknown chemicals and god knows what else to make it, for example, smell more pungent or mimic the effects of THC.

Fair enough. I guess my point is that the concern about "unregulated" drugs is whether the content is dangerous. If you buy an ounce of resin that's been cut with ash or something, the worst thing that can happen is that you realise you've a ****e batch.

This is in comparison to other drugs and even alcohol, where a dodgy unregulated batch can kill you. Like those kids in Cork last week.

ScumLord · 27-01-2016 05:54PM

Arghus wrote: »

Cannabis can very much be tampered with, beyond drying and cutting, and it frequently is. You might hear people talking about buying weed that has been "sprayed" i.e. - it's been literally sprayed with all kind of unknown chemicals and god knows what else to make it, for example, smell more pungent or mimic the effects of THC. And all this is connected to the forces of supply and demand and isn't all together too dissimilar to the cases of all other illegal drugs - there's a profit to be made in adultarating your product, if you only have a limited supply and people will, a lot of the time, buy whatever they can get.

The whole sprayed thing has become a bit of an urban legend. I remember the sprayed weed, it was sprayed with small glass beads. The point of spraying it wasn't to make it stronger, or smell better. It was to increase the weight. I've heard of sugar water being used as well.

Generally that's all that needs to be done to increase your profits from weed, make it heavier and make it bulkier. That's easily achieved through the drying process. Simply don't dry it out properly, or add water in and you've got twice the amount of weed, it looks bulky and it would pass most basic inspections. No need to buy some other chemical, no chance of completely ruining your weed, and generally the uninitiated have no clue anything's wrong.

Mesrine65 · 27-01-2016 06:25PM

warpdrive wrote: »

Best solution to avoiding possibly harmful additives from scumbag dealers. But still, no real way of knowing the true makeup of each harvest with regards to THC content.

Technically no...

Buy from a reputable business, eg The Amsterdam Seed Bank & the THC content of the strains you buy are graded by people in the know so you do have a baseline reference.

So is Marijuana to be legalized in Ireland shortly?

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