international cannabis action

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday April 22, 2003 20:10 by mick mccullagh - Cannabis Ireland Alliance topia303 at yahoo dot co dot uk

jday Picnic Against Prohibition

International Cannabis Action May 3rd 2003 3rd celebration of civil disobedience in Bushy Park 2pm Bushy Park Terenure

Cannabis Ireland Alliance (CIA) are holding their third annual J day celebration in Bushy Park Terenure, in Solidarity with demonstrations in over 150 cities around the world. Last years event attracted over 600 people who spent the day relaxing, socialising and listening to music in the sun.

CIA is a collection of concerned individuals who are campaigning for the re-legalisation of cannabis in Ireland. We advocate the acceptance of responsible cannabis use and the right of the individual to produce cannabis for personal use. We are calling for an immediate halt to criminal prosecution for possession or cultivation of cannabis; an amnesty for all those currently sentenced on cannabis charges.

Cannabis accounts for the largest proportion of drug related criminal proceedings in this state. 68% of all Garda drug cases are for cannabis (only 9% are heroin); 43% of all proceedings are taken against under 21 year olds; over 50% are under 25. 80 % of all drug offences are for possession compared to 17% for supply*. This is despite the minister Noel Ahern claiming that the drug strategy is dealing with hard drugs like heroin and admitting that cannabis does not cause harm to the society and communities#. So why does he insist on prosecuting young people for a victimless crime?

Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany and the UK have all made moves to liberalise their drug laws. It is time for the Irish Government to acknowledge that prohibition causes more harm than good, through unnecessary prosecutions. The war on cannabis only serves the criminals who are reaping immense profits from the situation. The war on cannabis is a waste of public funds.

The use of cannabis is a victimless crime, but the laws criminalizing it have created thousands of victims?

Phone Mick: 087 120 7884

Web Sites:
WWW.CANNABISIRELAND.COM
WWW.CURESNOTWARS.COM

*Year 2001 Crime Statistics
# Lifelines RTE Radio 1