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Europe: Irish Labor Party Debates Cannabis Legalization, Defers Decision

The Irish Labor Party discussed whether to decriminalize or legalize cannabis at its annual convention last Friday, but deferred the matter to its National Executive for further discussion. Putting cannabis on the party agenda was the handiwork of party whip Emmet Stagg, who has long been a proponent of legalization.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/files/emmetstagg.jpg
Emmet Stagg
Ireland has some of the highest cannabis use rates in Europe, Stagg noted. He does not wish to encourage cannabis use, he said; only to regularize a drug that is readily available across the country. Leaving the weed illegal creates criminality and drives young people into the hands of drug dealers, he said.

"I'm advocating its control, standardization, legitimization and taxation. I am recognizing the fact it is freely available," Stagg said. "Everywhere you go it is available from criminals," he said.

But after contentious debate, the party voted to defer a decision on adopting legalization or decriminalization as part of the platform. By a narrow margin, and following the lead of former party leader Pat Rabbitte, delegates voted to refer the matter to the National Executive for further discussion. While Rabbitte urged caution at the conference, he did say that policymakers need to be thinking outside the box when it comes to cannabis.

Labor is the third largest political party in Ireland. It is currently in the opposition.

Drug War Issues Marijuana Policy
Politics & Advocacy Politics Outside US

Cannabis,Pot,Hooch, what's wrong with it?

Hello from Virginia,
What's wrong with cannabis or it's legalization ? I , personally would rather meet a person on marijuana than one on alcohol. This is not saying you should be driving under the influence of either, but stating the lesser of two "evils" so to speak.

whats wrong with it?

Virginia I don't know any young alcoholics,kids that have a drink first thing in the morning and last thing at night but I do know a raft of young potheads who are pissing their lives up the wall. Promising careers and opportunities, I used to think it was ok. three puffs and a giiggle, not so with the new stronger pot, it is insidious.. a real life ruiner.. so how many teenage alcoholics do u know!

i go to school. i am in 5th

i go to school. i am in 5th year and the out of the 77 students in my year 58 students drink regurally every weekend 20 would smoke weed every weekend and 15 would smoke tobacco daily.
i know people hooked on tobacco and people who have to drink at least once a week who go out and start fights and get the guards calld when they drink. These students are ranged from late 16 to 17 and they always get there drink ever since 2nd year lots have been arrested for there behaveiour and haven to be taken to hospital. 0 have ever been arrested for there behaveiour under the influance of weed or ever been hospitleisd bacause of it. but every week 20 students will have to hand ther money over to a drugdealers because the government will not leaglize this herb!
all in all potsmokers are not putting themselfs or anyone else into hospital or damaging propetry or disturbing the peace and none of them are wasteing there lifes away a lot of them are very inteligent and do apply them selfs. The governments law is driving us into the hands of drugdealers who put god knows what into what they are selling us and useing our money to buy god knows what. i ask who is putting who in danger with this current law?

Reply

I find your comment to be brilliant, and I couldn't agree more. I hope more people from your generation will see eye to eye with you. Especially since you will all be in power sooner rather than later.

Cannabis legalisation

As an Irish citizen, and a labour party voter (mainly) i am disappointed that the labour party has deferred a decision on cannabis decriminalisation. In ireland the vast majority of cannabis on sale is cheap, low grade "soap bar" hash. Enables racketeers maximise profits. You can't buy this type of hash in a Dutch coffee shop, its that bad. Legalisation and regulation of the mark will ahve a positive impact on the respitory health of Irish hash smokers.

Cannabis Legalization

Hey im from illinois and i believe that pot should be legalized or the government should change 3 of my nearby towns are all pothead/crackhead communities because they shut down every recreational center and entertainment center because of older people selling drugs. Now the only thing in the 3 towns i a mcdonalds so kids are driven to drugs so they dont have any real choice in their lives.

Goodbye Recession

Let's take a look at this from an economic point of view. Leagalization is a complete win/win. It will creat jobs in farming, production, sales, and tourism. Taxing CLEAN, approved drugs would take power from gangters, and put profits into...let's say....HEALTHCARE???? An area that REALLY needs the money.

So, crime problem reduced, jobs created, tourism up, and happy countrymen. Where is the down side?

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