Weed legalization in Ireland

It's being smoked anyways, so probably best to decriminalise it at the very least. It's a very dangerous drug though; Dr. Jim Lucey (Professor of Psychiatry in TCD, former head of St Patrick's) was on the radio last year where he spoke about the horrifying amount of young people presenting for psychiatric care as a result of cannabis use; many of them with life changing mental health issues such as psychosis. We've this idea that cannabis is associated with listening to 70's rock, watching Farrelly Brother movies, and heatwave Dorritos, but modern strains are hugely potent dissociatives.

I reckon on an average week these days while I'm out on foot or on the bike I'd get the bang of weed from 3 or 4 cars passing me. Shocking stuff, you want to kill yourself fine but those idiots have no right putting me or anyone else on the road at risk.

There's the makings of a movie/tv show plot in there I feel

What is? The reality that much of the cannabis being sold to young people is of extremely high potency? Or that the result is that cannabis has overtaken all other drugs (including alcohol) for young people seeking help through mental health services? Many of them presenting with psychosis that will impact how they live the rest of their life?

https://www.irishpsychiatry.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-Effects-of-Cannabis-on-Mental-Health-Information-Sheet-for-Health-Professionals-CPsychI-14.04.21.pdf

I'm not against less police resources being spent on dealing with people holding small amounts of weed; but the idea that modern cannabis usage is a net positive is preposterous. I will always believe the realities presented by professionals dealing with its impacts, over the "well it never did me any harm" sorts. That applies to all other drugs as well.

It would be the propaganda that came out of the US in the 60s/70s with their war on drugs, largely influenced by the Tobacco and Alcohol administrations, with a range of biased research, which has been used as the foundation for the stance against cannabis. Subsequent US political administrations have sought to reinforce that same message to discourage the use of the drug.

Prior to your post, who had downplayed anything about weed usage? Oh, we're not jumping up and down railing at the negatives involved, but that doesn't make us downplaying anything.. although when you're as anti-weed as you are, I would suppose that anything that didn't place it up there with heroin would be downplaying. And yes, I would say you're "anti-" based on your presence and range of posts on any threads that come up about this topic. Just as I would be "pro-".

Life **** people up. Weed simply exaggerates the problems that people already have... just as any other drug will do.

Ahh well, the population in Ireland are to be treated as misguided rebellious children, incapable of making informed and responsible decisions for themselves. I've been doing weed for over two decades now, and quite honestly, it didn't lead me to doing other drugs. If anything, the experience of mixing drugs with weed, taught me not to do it. In fact, I'd say that Alcohol has led me to "try" or participate with more drugs, due to the difference in the buzz involved. Anyone interested in experimenting with drugs will do so, regardless of whether they've tried weed or not.

The stigma against cannabis/Weed in this country isn't based on experiences of the people who smoke/consume weed. It's based on the people who don't... and think they know what's involved.

Rubbish. I know a variety of dealers who have never been caught or received any convictions. The Gardai are notorious for releasing small dealers with a warning, especially if that dealer only sells weed/cannabis or the "lesser" drugs. Also, "fit and proper"? Good lord, what are you on about? As long as someone doesn't have any outstanding offenses, then they're capable of doing such management/employment in a regulated industry.

Such a strange post. What makes you such an expert that can pass judgment on others?