Which of our politicians would decriminalise cannabis ?

[Bogwarrior]

At the very least, and in the interest of the environment they could decriminalise the use of hemp for paper and other products.
If they cannot, can some journalist ask them for an explanation as to why not?

[Gimpanzee]

.

Have they d'internet in prison now? Bloody holiday camp.

[rightsofman]

Maybe a good compromise would be to allow people to grow their own cannabis plants, for use in their own homes, while retaining the existing status quo of illegality of possession and supply.

We don't need to go the route of licensing coffee-shops or dispensaries. If a person wants to smoke a joint in their own home, they should be allowed to, if they try to sell drugs to minors or anybody else on the street, they should be arrested. If they are walking down O'Connell st with a bag of cannabis in their pocket, they should also be arrested. Anyone who enjoys a joint in the privacy of their own home for whatever reason should have the right to do that.

However, I don't have faith in any current politician to recognise that point of view, or maybe more accurately, I don't think they would take a chance on it being something that could garner votes for them.

[Corcaigh33]

Hard to discuss this topic without commenting on the merits of decriminalising it. I don't believe it should be decriminalised and given that I doubt there is anyone in either FF or FG that would want it decriminalised (at least publicly), I doubt it will happen as they will be the majority partner in any government.

[geraghd]

This is not intended to be a thread on whether or not cannabis ought to be decriminalised.

It is wondering which of our politicians might get this moving ?

Do we have any liberal minded TDs who would speak out ?

E.g.


It took FF to decriminalise homosexuality - what of our "socially liberal parties" - Greens, PDs, Labour ?

cYp

Point of Information: Was it not a European Court case that forced the govt of the day to decriminalise homosexuality?

[cyberianpan]

Hard to discuss this topic without commenting on the merits of decriminalising it. I don't believe it should be decriminalised and given that I doubt there is anyone in either FF or FG that would want it decriminalised (at least publicly), I doubt it will happen as they will be the majority partner in any government.

There's probably thousands of posts on decriminalising pot on p.ie ... I appreciate a thread like this needs to stray a little towards the substantive issue but It'd be more helpful to confine it.

Barry Andrews struck me as a possibility for FF.... Deasy for FG but maybe that's me just getting sidetracked by his "rebel" image.

cYp

[Corcaigh33]

Hard to discuss this topic without commenting on the merits of decriminalising it. I don't believe it should be decriminalised and given that I doubt there is anyone in either FF or FG that would want it decriminalised (at least publicly), I doubt it will happen as they will be the majority partner in any government.

There's probably thousands of posts on decriminalising pot on p.ie ... I appreciate a thread like this needs to stray a little towards the substantive issue but It'd be more helpful to confine it.

Barry Andrews struck me as a possibility for FF.... Deasy for FG but maybe that's me just getting sidetracked by his "rebel" image.

cYp

Yea that's fair enough, I wasn't trying to make it a substantive issue thread.

[Furze]

Let me ponder for a nano-second –
Not one of them.
Hold on – unless some obscure backbencher (urban) who need to up his/her national profile.
Hold on – unless some prominent Green that wishes to deflect on the real issues that are
affecting us.
Utter nonsense!

[baldur0300]

This is not intended to be a thread on whether or not cannabis ought to be decriminalised.

It is wondering which of our politicians might get this moving ?

Do we have any liberal minded TDs who would speak out ?

E.g.


It took FF to decriminalise homosexuality - what of our "socially liberal parties" - Greens, PDs, Labour ?

cYp

Point of Information: Was it not a European Court case that forced the govt of the day to decriminalise homosexuality?

The ECtHR's decision was non-binding so nothing was forced upon the government. I suppose the case could be described as the inspiration to clean up the law by eliminating the statute.

[baldur0300]

This is not intended to be a thread on whether or not cannabis ought to be decriminalised.

It is wondering which of our politicians might get this moving ?

Do we have any liberal minded TDs who would speak out ?

E.g.

CNN
The U.S. should stop arresting responsible marijuana users, Rep. Barney Frank said Wednesday, announcing a proposal to end federal penalties for Americans carrying fewer than 100 grams, almost a quarter-pound, of the substance.

"The vast amount of human activity ought to be none of the government's business," Frank said during a Capitol Hill news conference. "I don't think it is the government's business to tell you how to spend your leisure time."

The Massachusetts Democrat and his supporters

likened Frank's proposal -- co-sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas -- to current laws dealing with alcohol consumption. Alcohol use is permitted, and the government focuses its law enforcement efforts on those who abuse alcohol or drive under its influence, he said.

Reps. William Lacy Clay, D-Missouri, and Barbara Lee, D-California, said that in addition to targeting nonviolent offenders, U.S. marijuana laws also unfairly target African-Americans.

It took FF to decriminalise homosexuality - what of our "socially liberal parties" - Greens, PDs, Labour ?

cYp

I would suggest that the possibility of cannabis legalisation is low. Government policy for years has been directed towards making smoking an anti-social habit. I doubt very much that the Government would then legalise a similar practice. It's always possible that an urban TD might want to get some headlines and come out with a legalisation proposal but no matter the constituency such a move could backfire quite badly.