01.29.06
The grass would be greener if cannabis were legalised
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The Department of Justice denies that McDowell told the gardai to drop the plan. But the justice minister did tell the commissioner that it would not “sit comfortably” with him. Clearly the commissioner doesn’t like his ministers sitting uncomfortably. The proposal disappeared on Tuesday.
If McDowell is to be logically consistent, and wants the rest of us to be morally consistent, then he did the right thing. It’s either a crime or it’s not. This position I can respect.
So what is the dope-smoking population who don’t see themselves as criminals to do? It would help if everybody stopped being so coy about their personal use. How can we have an intelligent debate about a common habit if everyone has to pretend they don’t do it? The joke about politicians not inhaling has worn thin. We have grown used to the concept that consenting adults can pretty much do what they want in the bedroom once they are not affecting anyone else; the same logic applies to rolling a joint at home.
If the worst thing about cannabis is the involvement with criminals, then take them out of the equation. Forget about downgrading possession from a mortal to a venal sin. They did it in England and are thinking of changing their minds. The way forward is not decriminalisation but commercialisation. Brand it, market it and sell it from a licensed premises to over-18s. Tax the hell out of it. The quality would improve immensely and the price wouldn’t go up much. The costs of marketing would simply replace the percentage going on bribes, and losses through seizures. To completely remove the criminal element, this must be done on a global scale.
This may sound glib or stupid, but not if you think about it. Apart from its arbitrary illegality, where is the actual harm in taking cannabis? Yes, it is a drug, by which we mean a chemical either naturally or artificially cultivated. There are pleasurable side effects, which is why people take it. It makes you feel relaxed and a bit giggly, with the occasional attack of the munchies. For some people, it just makes them feel sleepy. With no quality control system, the most likely risk is from whatever it’s been mixed with or from the tobacco in the joint.
There are negative effects. There may be a link between schizophrenia and heavy dope smoking. A small minority of users can become overly dependent, and not want to get out of bed in the morning. But it’s not addictive like harder drugs or commonly prescribed medications.
On the upside, it has medical benefits. It is fully established that cannabis is effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, among other conditions.
If the very thought of legalising cannabis frightens you, but you’re not sure why, compare it to alcohol. There are many differences between drink and cannabis; social acceptability being the main one. On a personal level, how many families do you know that have been destroyed by alcohol? Plenty, I’d say. How many do you know ruined by cannabis dependency? I can’t think of one.
For young men aged between 15 and 29, alcohol contributes to nearly half of all deaths from motor vehicle accidents; one third of poisonings, drownings, homicides and falls; and one fifth of suicides. For young women, alcohol contributes to about one in three of all deaths from poisonings, drownings and homicides, and one in five deaths from motor vehicle accidents and falls.
As the second task force on alcohol report says: “Alcohol-related harm happens to those who don’t drink; drink small amounts but in a risky situation; those who drink to excess sometimes; and those who regularly abuse alcohol.” In 2003, a conservative estimate put the cost of alcohol to Irish society at €2.65 billion. Yet in that same society, people who don’t drink are considered odd.
Every night hundreds of people get smashed, end up in A&E, fight, drive drunk, get an ulcer, and then show up late for work because they’re hungover. But if I rolled a joint, which is likely to make me passive rather than violent, and sleepy rather than teary, I’m the one breaking the law.
If alcohol was invented tomorrow, any right-thinking person would immediately call for its prohibition. They tried that in America between 1920 and 1933 and it was a total failure. Why? Consumption dropped at the start, which was the goal of prohibition. But it soon picked up again, except this time the quality had deteriorated and it became more dangerous to consume.
Acquiring alcohol brought otherwise decent citizens into contact with criminal gangs who organised and flourished. The justice system was swamped. No measurable gains were made in work productivity or reduced absenteeism. Contact with dealers led some people into contact with other drugs such as cocaine or heroin. And the government lost important revenue from its taxation. The whole thing was a disaster.
Now substitute the word cannabis for alcohol, and you have a picture of what’s happening in western society. The ban on cannabis is purely cultural. Alcohol has disastrous effects on our society, but we take the view that it is up to the individual to monitor his or her own use. We rely on the government to educate, regulate and treat those who fall by the wayside.
The negative effects of cannabis are significantly less than alcohol and yet we refuse to take the same approach. Instead, western democracies play around with changing classifications.
People turn to drugs legal, illegal and prescribed because they are bored, unhappy, helpless, lonely and, in many cases, poor. Let’s spend the money helping them instead of wasting it by arresting harmless folk like me.
Darren said,
January 29, 2006 at 6:53 pm
We’re well on our way to legalization here in BC. Possession of small amounts has been decrimilized, so that all you receive is a fine.
niall said,
January 29, 2006 at 10:04 pm
All politicians in all countries know that there are no arguments moral or otherwise to support the continuing car crash policies on drugs. But as in all matters in anyway ‘contentious’ they cannot use any initiative because they wrongly believe it will hinder their careers. Spineless amoeba like fuckwitts all.
Pete said,
January 30, 2006 at 12:17 pm
While it’s good to see a rational and accurate piece of writing about cannabis, in contrast to the hysterical (in both senses of the word) nonsense spouted by most official sources, I’m sure you know that exacly the same arguements for legalisation have been made by many people around the world for many years, and have changed nothing. In a country as insular and conservative as Ireland, don’t you feel you might be making a career-limiting move my publicly repeating them?
Despite being a liberal at heart, I’m against legalisation for the following reasons:
1. I want to see the sale of tobacco banned, for health reasons. Yes, I accept that it would have to be phased out over a long period to support the existing addict population, but I want it gone, and it would be hypocritical of me to simultaneously support the legalisation of another smoked product.
2. Smoking cannabis can indeed bring people into the outer edge of a hidden world of gangsters, cash deals, unconventional ideas and lifestyles, counter-culture, etc. and that’s half the fun. It’s a fairly safe and cheap way for people to feel that their life isn’t totally straight and boring, because they have a secret that would shock the squares in the office, and could get them arrested. Most people grow out of smoking cannabis after a while (it’s easy to give up, no withdrawal symptoms), but in later life they take pleasure in remembering that in their youth they were “hip” or whatever the word is now.
If cannabis was legalised, people would go for harder drugs, probably heroin or crack, to get that “I’m being naughty” thrill, with serious consequences for the rest of their lives.
Gumboots said,
January 30, 2006 at 1:28 pm
I can’t disagree with any of those arguments but I just can’t get away from that nagging feeling that it’s a selfish middle-class response. Legalised or criminalised the middle class are shielded from the majority of the consequences of drug abuse has had for society thus far, and legalised we get a clear conscience into the bargain. Hurray for us!
Leon said,
January 30, 2006 at 2:51 pm
The fact that one harmful drug has been incorporated into our culture doesn’t mean that we shoud acquire new vices.
What’s next ;heroin for schoolchildren?
We should follow the Chinese approach to wiping out drug abuse. The users get one warning after that it is execution.
Pete said,
January 30, 2006 at 9:47 pm
I forgot to mention, cannabis should of course be legally available to those with medical conditions that respond to it. I really don’t understand why the establishment have a problem with this, they have no problem giving people morphine or prozac or a million other drugs, cannabis is just another drug.
Sarah said,
January 30, 2006 at 9:51 pm
“I’m sure you know that exacly the same arguements for legalisation have been made by many people around the world for many years, and have changed nothing. In a country as insular and conservative as Ireland, don’t you feel you might be making a career-limiting move my publicly repeating them?”
I know Pete. And to be honest, as I wrote the column I knew that the arguments were old hat for many people. However I know that a lot of older conservative people read the column and I wanted to talk to them and not the converted liberal yoof audience.
It may be career limiting, but honestly I am so bored and irritated by the meeja/political game where everyone pretends they don’t smoke when they do. Maybe if more people start admitting it, it will at least add some honesty to the debate (even if that debate doesn’t actually achieve anything).
Leon (welcome welcome) your first line “The fact that one harmful drug has been incorporated into our culture doesn’t mean that we shoud acquire new vices.” is sensible (not sure if you intended it to be so. In fact this is the only rebuttal to my argument that carries any weight.
However the bottom line is, and I acknowledge Gumboots point here, I enjoy the odd smoke and I get pissed off that some people insist on seeing the habit as being one step from injecting heroin and that this makes me a very bad person. I am occasionally in error, but I am not a bad person.
P O'Neill said,
January 31, 2006 at 3:00 am
There is an issue with driving while stoned. This has come up a few times in France, for example, where the issue seems to get a lot of coverage.
Pete said,
January 31, 2006 at 10:47 am
If alcohol can be legal to use but illegal to drive under the influence of, so can cannabis, so that’s not really an arguement against legalisation.
Ali said,
January 31, 2006 at 1:18 pm
And I’m just… so bored and irritated by the meeja
True Blueshirt said,
February 1, 2006 at 12:20 pm
That blue shirt of yours has faded in the wash. You aren’t thinking clearly which isn’t suprising a combination of THC and Oestregen (either of which would be disastrous on its own) makes logic impossible.
Drug abuse destroyed China and set them back 200 years. As a PROUD BLUESHIRT you must be obsessed with the future of the white race. Don’t you care about the legacy of Oliver Flanagan that great Fine Gaeller?
If we take drugs and the Chinamen don’t where will the WHITE RACE end up.
If this is blueshirtism I want no part of it.
True Blueshirt
Sarah said,
February 1, 2006 at 4:17 pm
hi leon.
Leon said,
February 2, 2006 at 11:36 am
Hi Sarah,
Drugs make people boring: I met a woman recently who went to Miami for New Years she had a great time sitting in her hotel room smoking rock.
Sounds like a crap holiday to me, but I guess it takes all sorts to make a world.
This would have been a better article if it was abot rock cocaine.
“Like many of my middle-class and increasingly middle-aged peers, I have smoked the occasional rock of cocaine. So when Michael McDowell said last week that “everybody who freebases in a social context is participating on the fringe of a world where gangsters are shooting each others’ heads offâ€Â, I had to examine my conscience. …”
John of Dublin said,
February 2, 2006 at 1:07 pm
Hi guys, good debate. I’m inclined to think we should not legalise new recreational drugs..enough hassle with cigs and alcohol!
BTW I’m starting a debate on Comedy – what people find funny, not funny etc….see my John of Dublin link or http://earthanduniverse.blogspot.com
Would love everyone’s views.
John
bob said,
March 21, 2007 at 1:06 pm
to true blue shirt
i think they are talking about cannabis not opium which is what was rampant in china.this is part of the problem some twats still see cannabis on the same level as heroin. where as a recent report in england says that alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous than cannabis. the facts are out there people all you have to do is wiggle your fingers on your keyboard to find them.
curly said,
April 4, 2007 at 8:43 pm
I AM AN EX CANNABIS SMOKER AND I AGREE TOTALLY TO THE LEGALIZATION OF IT. YES IT MAKES YOU FEEL RELAXED AND YES YOU CAN BE A BIT GIDDY BUT IT ALSO OPENS YOUR MIND TO YOUR SOUL WITHIN. IT ALLOWS YOU TO DEAL WITH ISSUES ONE MIGHT HAVE WITHIN THEMSELVES.
MR MC DOWELL OF COURSE HAS THE PERFECT LIFE AND WOULDNT NEED A JOINT, I WONDER DOES HE CONDEMN ALL THE POLITICIANS AND GARDAI WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH DRINK DRIVING ?
PEOPLE SAY IT IS A GATEWAY DRUG AND MAYBE IT IS FOR SOME BUT FOR THE MAJORITY THEY JUST LIKE A SMOKE !
Chene.. Ireland said,
May 31, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Now, I understand everybodys view, if it was legalised it would be great no more people would get arrested for it, and it could overpower drinking and maybe smoking, making less criminals and familys falling apart, who ever heard at a family falling apart because there all happy smoking a joint, go out drinking with your wife, one wrong word TRAGIC.. big argument banned from pubs ect.. i used to drink alot and be sick all the time. then i started cannabis, whitch is safe and gives you a great feeling, ive taken extacy once or twice its great yeah. but it can kill you. cannabis cannot kill you.. and its great, so legalise it, and stop thinking its bad because its got the word “drug” in it.. jesus. most people who are against it, should smoke a jojnt, and relax there heads. END THE BICKERING AT HOME OUTSIDE FIGHTING DUE TO ALCOHOL.. Its ridiculos dont you all agree. Relax your heads everybody.. Legalise cannabis, please.
:)
Thanks for hearing me out.
Chene
Tom said,
June 23, 2007 at 6:04 pm
The same day that the governbent cop on to how many people are taking cannabis and how much money they could be making in taxes is the same day it will be made legal. When they cop on to how many people are giving up drink and using cannabis instead of waking up half dead the next morning and going to work is the same day (done it myself) it will be made legal. Lets face it the majority of sheep (people) believe everything they are told about cannabis from tabloids and politicians alike. When they want to make it legal due to money they are losing out on all they have to do is say its ok now its not that bad and the most of the sheep will just bah ok. I just feel sorry for medicinal users they have something that improves there way of life but they could have there door kicked in at anytime for using it adding stress to some of there already bad lives.
martin said,
June 23, 2007 at 10:27 pm
I think cannabis should be legalised, and I think a good solution would be to allow people to grow their own plants.
Darren Mac an PhrÃora said,
June 24, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Below is an article in did in a college ‘paper in Wolverhampton on Cannabis and its link with psychosis.
A Channel 4 documentary entitled “Cannabis Psychosis” has recently highlighted the effects of the long-term use of cannabis and it’s link with mental health. The documentary covered the relationship and the differences between cannabis use in the 1960’s and today. It included interviews with a person admitted to a psychiatric hospital- which he believes to be attributed to cannabis-, cannabis smokers, doctors, psychiatrists, professors, medical consultants, toxicologists, and a couple who now have regrets about letting their child smoke the drug.
The main psychoactive drug in cannabis is delta-9 Tetrahydrocannclonal (THC), which is produced in high amounts of the drug. THC produces extra dopamine in the dopamine neurosis in the substantra nuyra of the midbrain. Dopamine is the chemical in the brain that produces happiness. Similarly this is the sensation users feel when thy are “stoned”. Our brain produces dopamine naturally. The problem is that THC destroys the dopamine neurons in the midbrain and thus retards them.
The amount of THC in cannabis nowadays is increasingly more dangerous. According to Graham Kippling, a drug worker with the NHS in Wolverhampton, “any drug becomes more dangerous when it is more and more refined and purified. I mean, cocaine is known to be very dangerous, but if you go to where they make it- grow it- you’ll find the workers eating the leaves and it helps them work all day. It doesn’t seem to have any detrimental effect in them long-term, but as soon as you start purifying something… you increase the effects and it becomes very toxic and dangerous. It’s the general principle with drugs.”
Cannabis is now often forcibly grown which has resulted in an increase of THC in the plant. This has mainly been a result of demand. The amount of THC in cannabis varies. In the 1960’s cannabis was a relatively mild drug and contained about 0- .75% THC. Nowadays the average amount of THC in cannabis is between 4-5%. There are even some forms that contain between 10-30% THC e.g. “skunk”, “black Moroccan”.
The documentary was very informative on the broad debate on cannabis but went into particular detail between the links between the drug and psychosis. “Cannabis psychosis” or “toxic psychosis” results when a smoker has smoked too much of the drug. Since the 1970’s scientists have been studying the connection between dopamine malfunction- which cannabis allegedly produces- and the two major central nervous system disorders- Schizophrenia and Parkinson’s Disease. The Doctors and Professors in the documentary said that while there may be some links between the other main ingredient in cannabis- cannibidol or CND (which is the opposite to THC) which can have medicinal qualities with illnesses such as epilepsy there is a great need for research in the area. Drugs that produce extra dopamine “are likely to make you psychotic” according to a specialist in Lambeth Hospital in London. “You don’t go psychotic for cannabis after taking the drug after a couple of months. Persistently it seems to induce a change in the chemical transition in the brain which makes the brain much more sensitive”, he said.
While it has been proven that people’s genes determine to a large extent whether they develop schizophrenia, with cannabis users and schizophrenia the link seems to be unnecessary. Over the last few months’ studies have come out that studied whether there is a link between cannabis smokers and psychosis in later life. In the case of Lambeth Hospital’s psychiatric wing eighty per cent of people admitted with psychosis smoke cannabis. The link, conclusively proven, will come as no surprise to doctors. For its population South London now has more cannabis smokers than Amsterdam does.
According to Dr. Zemin Atakin, a Consultant Psychiatrist in Lambeth Hospital “being suspicious, being paranoid is not pleasant at all. It can be extremely painful and distressing to the patient and those who are around them. I’ve known patients who try to close their ears to not hear voices. Of course you can’t stop the voices by closing your ears. Some clients listen to loud music. Its painful to them and it’s very painful for us to watch them.”
According to Graham Kippling there have been a lot of articles in papers published recently which have shown “more and more strength for the hypothesis that cannabis use, particularly if started as a teenage person- at that sort of time- and continues unabated, there is a very stronger risk of mental illness developing- psychotic conditions and schizophrenia. And people are really unaware of this effect perhaps until they stop using cannabis. They might use it for years and they get thrown into prison and they can’t get cannabis. They find that when they withdraw from cannabis they get very irritable, short- tempered and even psychotic… It stays in the system after regular use for about a month.”
Mr. Kippling was expressing his personal opinion though, and when pushed on the question of whether a medical condition such as Cannabis Psychosis officially existed he say no. He though believes there is such a condition; “It’s the sort of thing where you get a few addiction people, psychiatrists in a setting, you will find some disagreement but they’d all generally agree that it does lead to mental health problems.” He is definitely against legislation and draws the comparison between Cannabis Psychosis and alcohol; “If you’re drunk you’re psychotic. It’s temporary induced psychosis. Lack of insight really. Your behaviour is out of the norm, it tends to run against all the norms of behaviour in society and you have no insight into how your behaviour, and what effect you’re having on other people. You’re psychotic.”
Governments recognise that with all drugs the best prevention is through education.
Michael Murphy said,
January 30, 2008 at 2:23 am
I’m 24 years old and I spend 200 euro per month on hashish, this has got me 2 lung infections as of the mixed toxins that are put into it by dealers before it gets into our country..I have decided to leave depressive Ireland and it’s laws behind.. I’m like any other normal person I like the odd joint and I smoke with friends in a relaxed company.. I have never had a criminal offence, but if I grew some organic weed tomorrow that I know won’t give me lung infection,I would but, I’m too scared to. Thank’s yet again
to our laws here in Ireland.. I will not grow for my own use..I don’t want anymore lung infections or to give my money to gangters off the street who sell toxic crap to teens + students…I’m Off to Holland ! can’t wait, tough I will miss Ireland and my family & friends… Oh’ by the way..I actually only smoke the stuff on weekends only, as I play sports during the week.but it still costs me 200euro per month for dirty hashish of dealers..
so keep your ignorance towards it if you want ?.. we might just get bored reading the same stories in our news.. Youths, Students, the professional working class people, everyone who likes a joint, will keep these gangsters in pocket & criminals selling toxic hashish.. good for the gangsters who read this.. Look at what the goverment is giving you dealers..our money to buy
weapons and luxury homes, cars ect…and also our lives… BYE BYE
depressing Ireland and to our stuck up laws towards Cannabis…I’m off to Amsterdam where I can get on with my studies and life + health..
jdog said,
April 14, 2008 at 10:52 am
not really motherfucker
what about depersonalization
and derealization
naysaying jerks