THE NUI GALWAY student body today voted that its Students’ Union should support the legalisation of cannabis.

In a referendum today, students were asked if they agreed the SU should “actively supports the legalisation and regulation of the cultivation, sale and possession of cannabis for adults age 18 and over”.

Of the 2,634 voters, 68% voted yes and 32% voted no. This result now gives the SU a mandate to support legalisation, making it the first SU in Europe to take such a stance.

Ciarán Maher, of the university’s Students for Sensible Drug Policy Society said the students have made a strong statement against the current system of handling cannabis in Ireland. This system, he said, “allows this very profitable industry to be controlled by criminal gangs, while needlessly criminalising normal people”.

We want to know what you think: Is it time now to legalise cannabis in Ireland?

Read: NUI Galway Students’ Union to hold referendum on cannabis legalisation>

Read: NUI Galway says questionnaire about menstrual cycles did not decide who got jobs>

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