This may be relevant to the “medicinal” argument. I had a blood clot removed from the right frontal lobe of my brain – Accquired Brain Injury. I later developed Epilepsy as a result, at one stage I suffered maybe 20 “Fits” a day. I tried many meds to try and control it but had little success. I eventually achieved some kind of control having exceeded the recommended maximum dose of “Keppra” by 1000mg until I was taking 4000mg a day. About 2 years ago I started smoking maybe a joint a day (on holidays, maybe 2). I have not had a fit in that time. I still take the meds of course but have since had my dose reduced. I find the joint helps me to be a lot more relaxed and calm than I used to be (I used to have the most terrible mood swings etc). I was at one point on both anti-depressants (Lexapro) and anti-stress (Xanax) pills. I no longer need them and am convinced the cannabis has helped. I have no way of knowing for sure of course but do feel it’s an area that should be explored in far greater detail. Some Epilepsy sites say it helps some and not others. It is used as far as I can make out, medicinally,in some countries at least on a trial basis. It may be a slightly different argument than the “recreational” argument but I personally don’t see the harm in it, within reason, like most things. Please don’t bother with the “oh, you could kill someone while stoned, you could knock down a child” nonsense. I don’t drive etc after drinking, never. I also wouldn’t smoke while driving, never. Their will always be idiots who get behind the wheel after a drink or after a smoke. It’s about personal responsibility.

Legalisation in the US would save the government $13.7bn a year through less policing costs and tax revenues. Translate that to Ireland and you’d get €200m in savings in what is a conservative estimate.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/17/economists-marijuana-legalization_n_1431840.html

300 Economists and 3 Nobel Laureates agree on the figures which were put together in Harvard!

Thats how many big raids in the past month. The fact off the matter remains tomorrow is 4/20 a day recognised all over the world. With all their raids every cinema tomorrow nite will be full off beady eyed stoners for the Marley movie. It should be legalised making criminals out off people who enjoy a smoke is a disgrace. The lung and throat damage that occurs from smoking sand, fibreglass and whatever else it is greedy dealers spray it with has yet to be seen. The cost off these raids, the cost off the national drugs unit would be far less if it was legal. After all it is less damaging to society as a whole than drink.

legalizing is the right thing to do, but there are too many vested interests with too much at stake to let it happen.

Pharmaceutical corporations are one of the main opposition to the legalisation of cannabis. The medicinal properties in cannabis offer a substitute for a wide range of prescribed drugs. They can’t make money on what you grow in your house

Also hemp is far superior as a fibre for use in fabrics.

I’ll get me coat…

Come on make this stuff legal. Doesn’t ‘potential loss to the exchequer’ sound alot better then ‘street value’.

my mistake. 3000 plants has 1,350,000 value. Thats a nice chunk of change to help ease the taxpayers worries!!

The real reasons why Marijuana is and will remain illegal. http://www.naturalnews.com/035584_Obama_War_on_Drugs_prohibition.html

Very well said Brian. It’s a shame we live in a nanny state where personal responsibility is never given the opportunity to prove itself. Just because we have a culture of abusing alcohol, then obviously the rest will be the same. Sure they’re trying to ban adverts for cheese now…what next?

I’m on my way.

No problem. There are plenty of legal alternatives left to choose from. Nicotine delivery systems, alcohol and over the counter Codeine are all fully sanctioned by our venerable leaders. They will all kill you, albeit slowly, however they are after all significant revenue raisers and as such they balance out the significant potential damage they pose to your health.

Love your government, they only ever act with your best interests in mind, thats so long as your interests don’t conflict with theirs.

@Chelsealen. I know exactly what he means. It is a wicked drug and I understand his frustration and his choice entirely. Best of luck to you both
@Shelly. Thank you and yeah, you’re spot on. Bloody muppets!

Must be some house!!