Wanna see cannabis legalised in Ireland? Join the conversation at the Quay Co-Op
Spoiler alert: Ireland’s approach to drugs isn’t working.
And if you’d like to find out more about the campaign to introduce an alternative method of dealing with the issue, there’s an information evening happening this week in a city bookshop.
The folks behind People Before Profit Cork City will be getting together on Tuesday, September 19th at 7pm at the Quay Co-Op Bookshop to discuss the Irish state’s not-so-successful law and order approach to drugs and the possible alternatives.
Speaking will be local People Before Profit activist Em Shilling, and People Before Profit TD for Dublin Mid-West Gino Kenny, who in November of last year introduced a Dáil bill that would legalise cannabis for personal use. Gino also played a role in the campaign of Cork mum Vera Twomey who fought against the government for access to medical cannabis for her daughter Ava.
“It’s a failure of monumental proportions by the powers that be to prevent a lifeline to a vulnerable young girl,” said Gino.
“They failed where the family and the public prevailed. What began as the unconditional love for her daughter would eventually change the law for greater access to medicinal cannabis for the many.”
— People Before Profit Cork (@PBPCork) September 13, 2023
Currently, there are just two remaining sessions of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use. Previous assemblies resulted in significant constitutional and social change over the last decade.
“For the past six decades the Misuse of Drugs Act has underpinned Ireland’s response to the use and availability of drugs,” added Gino.
“Over those six decades countless amounts of people have been brought before the criminal justice system. Many of those have received criminal records that still blight their job and travel prospects. Others have entered the criminal justice complex spending a significant part of their lives in prison.
“The controlled substances that are stipulated under the Misuse of Drugs Act are all but controlled by the black market and this subsequently is controlled by criminal gangs that wield extreme violence and intimidation in communities.”
All are welcome to attend the discussion at the Sullivan’s Quay venue on Tuesday.
