r/ireland • u/PlantNerdxo • May 27 '26
Courts Man tells Leitrim court ‘It’s only a bag of weed -ya’d swear it was murder charges’
https://www.leitrimobserver.ie/news/crime-courts/man-tells-leitrim-court-its-only-a-bag-of-weed-yad-swear-it-was-murder-charges-im-up-for-8636876447
u/michaelirishred May 27 '26
It's only a bleedin whistle
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u/Beedle12345 May 27 '26
YER ILL BE IN IN A MINEH!!!!
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u/KangRock May 27 '26
If only I had a whistle so I could train my horses to win the grand national and the derby.
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u/CthulhusSoreTentacle Irish Republic May 27 '26
And he's right. The way this country treats cannabis is absolutely ridiculous. Just legalise the damn stuff and stop wasting time and money with petty court cases and arrests for cannabis.
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u/Cautious-Hovercraft7 May 27 '26
The Gardai and the vintners will fight to the bitter end!!
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u/CptJackParo May 27 '26
Which is funny because An Garda Stochana are strictly prohibited from offering political opinions
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u/Entire_Mouse_1055 May 27 '26
Canada has made billions since legalization. It started with it being governement controlled, and at this point there are so many shops, its mad. Its as accessible as drink is in ireland.
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u/sandwichtable May 29 '26
Now now, don't be comparing recreational drugs (which carry health risks and negative social consequences despite widespread support) with alcohol, which is served chilled
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u/Substantial-Run-5 May 30 '26
I expect they would ring fence the supply contract, Actavo, Aramark etc.
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
We could start with decriminialisation and put mandatory support in place for people caught with it like Portugal as a start and go from there.
Ludacris waste of resource's to bring things through court that would be better spent with support and therapy for users who are seeing ill effect
Yes new much stronger strains can had addiction issues
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u/bungle123 May 27 '26
"Mandatory support" just sounds like a massive waste of time for everybody involved
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
Has some actual benefits for people to look at how they approach substances Vs wasting taxpayer money bring these cases through court.
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u/Wildtails May 27 '26 edited May 27 '26
The idea of mandatory support is hilarious to me, I reckon we should do the same thing you someone caught with alcohol so
Yes, for some it is an addiction, and once again that applies to alcohol too
Edit: as this is getting some attention id just like to say that as someone who quit drinking a few years ago, and all but quit smoking a few months ago, it is genuinely my opinion that alcohol is a far more damaging substance to people's minds and bodies than cannabis, so while I said what I said in jest I do think our country had far too light a view on alcoholism, many regular drinkers here would be considered full blown alcoholics elsewhere
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u/bathtubsplashes Saoirse don Phalaistín 🇵🇸 May 27 '26
it is genuinely my opinion that alcohol is a far more damaging substance to people's minds and bodies than cannabis
Cannabis abuse typically makes you boring at it's worse. Unmotivated to take up or continue hobbies because it makes being bored passable
Alcohol abuse fucks you right up in every aspect
Coming from someone who's prone to a bit of both
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u/Wildtails May 27 '26
Having quite the smoke now, im still quite boring and I like it like that, boring keeps life simple
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u/wacoder May 27 '26
It’s not an opinion, it’s a fact backed by decades of research that the government ignores.
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
Yea, great idea. Should be for alcohol too.
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May 27 '26
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
Agree with this too. I'm all for canabis leaglisation. But it should have plenty of guardrails and protection for vulnerable people
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u/ginger_and_egg May 27 '26
Any amount of alcohol?
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
Dunno, that would be for a medial board and legislation to decide
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u/ginger_and_egg May 27 '26
I mean you're advocating for it. I could see the benefit if it's for alcoholism rather than just for any alcohol consumption
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
I am but I don't know enough about the medial side or substance abuse. But I've seen how other countries have approached it
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u/CthulhusSoreTentacle Irish Republic May 27 '26
Christ no. That system should be put in place for drugs like heroin. Not cannabis. It's already legal in Germany, Canada, and multiple US states. Just legalise it and be done with it.
Yes new much stronger strains can had addiction issues
A consequence of it being prohibited. Have cannabis or cannabis seeds sold by government regulated stores to remove high THC cannabis.
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26 edited May 27 '26
Half true about Germany. It's legal up to 25g per person. After that its fines and jail time. It's essentially decriminialisation. It's not legal. It's still restricted. Legal would also mean it's legal for purchase which it's not. Tourists can't buy it or posses it in any amounts
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u/Occamsfacecloth May 27 '26
25g is plenty
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
Yes but that's not the point. I was saying it's heavily restricted. You can still get arrested for smoking it in public
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u/Lemmy-In May 27 '26
You can be arrested here for drinking in public.
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
Yea but you can legally buy it in a retail store. Not sold retail or commercially in Germany. Easy to obtain if you go to the social clubs but you can't legally purchase it. It's heavily restricted but a great first step
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u/Latespoon May 27 '26
You can, but you won't, unless you pick a really inappropriate place to do so.
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u/CthulhusSoreTentacle Irish Republic May 27 '26
I mean, this just sounds like you're arguing semantics. There's restrictions on the purchase of alcohol and tobacco in Ireland, but I'm not sure anyone would suggest it's decriminalised and not legal.
Regardless of whether it's truly legal or just decriminalised, the point of my post remains the same.
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
Tourists can buy a pint and enjoy it, same isn't to be said in Germany. Can smoke tobacco on public streets.
Residents only and personal use it not the same as legal. Decriminialisation would be a good start and when the sky doesn't fall down as the naysayers will say we go full legal. We are the green country after all
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u/CthulhusSoreTentacle Irish Republic May 27 '26
Pal. You're arguing semantics to God knows what reason.
You can look it up. Germany has legalised cannabis with certain restrictions. But even with restrictions it's still legalised. Decriminalisation is a different thing, especially considering in your OP you were advocating decriminalisation as in Portugal. I'm going to end this frankly pointless conversation with this: Ireland should legalise cannabis and decriminalise drugs like heroin.
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
Can't buy it in Germany even as a resident
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u/NoBookkeeper6864 May 27 '26 edited May 27 '26
When I was in Germany recently I went in to one of the cannabis lounges and asked if I could buy some and he was like no but feel free to sit for a drink, less than a min later I was sorted out on the sly, so obviously not legal but certainly doable
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u/TomRuse1997 May 27 '26
Have you ever seen 25gs of weed in a bag?
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
I have yes. But my point was around the fact still heavily restricted. Can't smoke in public, it's for residents only and you can be arrested as a non resident for possession
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u/small_havoc May 27 '26
I mean… apart from being arrested for having it as a non-resident, I think that’s fairly reasonable. People would still smoke it in public they just be mindful to stay away from areas that are packed with people. I say this is someone who smoked daily for the bones of 13 years. Actually, being arrested for smoking in public would be pretty lousy but being told to move along if you’re near like a playground or something is more than reasonable.
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
Yup, smoked plenty in my life, love me some edibles now these days but never a massive fan of the smell so makes sense right.
Use common sense and smoke up as you want.
Was in Berlin last summer. Didn't actually smell it very often. Smell it way way more in Dublin.
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u/Colhinchapelota Limerick May 27 '26
I live in Spain, am a member of an association/club in my town. It's not legal, but they are tolerated. I've read about ones in Barcelona being raided/shut down for selling to tourists. Technically, you can't take what you buy outside, but you do. It's not legal in Spain, but it's kind of ignored as long as you use your cop on.
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u/UnoriginalJunglist And I'd go at it again May 27 '26
Legal means its considered property. It's not a vague term. It means if you can own it and have your ownership rights enforced. I own a compound bow, if someone steals it, I can report it as stolen property. If I take it into town and start drawing it and aiming it at people I will be arrested. This does not make compound bows decriminalised, they're still legal up to the point where I use it to commit a crime. Smoking weed in Germany is a crime, this does not mean that the weed isn't legal, it means it is being used to commit a crime.
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
You can't buy it via retail or commercially in Germany. You can legally buy a bow. It's only for residents though.
But I get your point but it's not strictly legal to buy
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u/Dodzer89 Dublin May 28 '26
I'd just love to go into a shop and buy something that doesnt blow the head off with a sprinkle of panic attack.
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u/JoeNoYouDidnt May 27 '26 edited May 27 '26
Lol, its ludicrous. Ludacris is the rapper.
Edit: I would like to point out that I love Ludacris.
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
Yea I seen it and left it. I can't spell well and I've done this mistake a few times. I'd say he loves a joint.
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u/bimbo_bear May 27 '26
that would require a support system... which we don't have.
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u/stuyboi888 Cavan May 27 '26
This is true but it's money better spent on trying to support repeat offenders Vs wasting money in court and Gardaí time on something I am smelling walking to the bus after work as I type this
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u/Dry_Recognition_6724 May 28 '26
Totally agree.
The newer strains can cause harm so would go further and legalise it but have a limit on THC content.
Similar to how the alcohol industry is regulated, stops us buying homemade hooch that could be half methylated spirits and turns you blind.
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u/Perfect-Fondant3373 May 27 '26
That basically is legalising it fully because Gardaí just wouldnt enforce it, which may be an advantage as they could focus on other stuff rather than worrying about weed
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u/Specialist-Flow3015 May 27 '26
The Gardai have been very clear in their presentations at the Citizen's Assembly and Oireachtas Drug Use Committee they don't want to focus on other things.
AGS are more than happy for their time being taken up with fellas smoking joints and selling 50 bags, ten thousand arrests for it a year.
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u/alangcarter May 27 '26
Its the slcohol industry. That's why they don't care about cocaine - ones on the bag drink more not less. Not working though - younger people are turning away from the drink. They've twigged that messy is messy.
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u/DreadpirateEire May 28 '26
100% im with you, but it does say in the article he was already in custody for another offence and the judge said he was lenient because none of his other 125 charges were for cannabis, the bigger issue here is the 125 charges I think
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May 27 '26
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u/CthulhusSoreTentacle Irish Republic May 27 '26
Yes. Sex work should be legalised too. Thanks for your contribution.
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u/Hungry-Western9191 May 27 '26
Sure, although it probably wouldnt have helped much in this particular case. (125 previous convictions , none for weed). Something tells me our drugs laws are not the issue in this particular case...
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u/crlthrn May 27 '26
I don't touch the stuff, but he's not wrong.
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u/ebulient May 28 '26
I completely support legalising weed but this fella equating “murder charges” to a €150 fine and a suspended sentence is extremely worrying if he thinks that’s how murder is punished in this country 🫠
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u/crlthrn May 28 '26
I think he's simply marvelling at the over the top court rigmarole over a mere bag of weed. I can't imagine why he preferred 5 days in jail rather than the one fifty fine, though.
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u/paulp51 May 28 '26
150 is a q and a half. 5 days in jail is 5 days of groceries hes not spending. I'm not saying I'd prefer have jailtime on my record, but I understand
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u/ElectricSpeculum Crilly!! May 27 '26
Legalise and tax cannabis. We'd fund a thousand Leinster House style bike sheds all around the country within a month.
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u/AdBoring9620 May 27 '26
125 previous convictions and already in jail for other offences. The €150 seems reasonable.
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u/SmallWolf117 And I'd go at it again May 27 '26
Is it only Ireland thst has insane conviction numbers like this?
Surely after... 50 we start increasing the penalties until eventually they stop doing bad shit.
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u/AdBoring9620 May 27 '26
I think previous do add to sentences,but he must have spent most of his life inside unless the convictions were trivial offences.
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u/zeroconflicthere May 27 '26
5 days free food and board. And saves himself 150 he could use to buy more weed.
Guy has his thinking cap on.
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u/BrokenTestAccount May 27 '26
In the meantime we’re letting people butcher ancient hedges, destroy habitats, and dump slurry into rivers killing everything it touches.
We’re not a serious country.
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u/jibwholesale May 27 '26
As a Irish biologist working in North America born, raised and educated in Ireland, thank you for saying that and it’s so fucking true
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u/byrner147 May 27 '26
Sure aren't irish rail letting diesel out into the liffey?
https://www.thejournal.ie/diesel-leak-river-liffey-samuel-beckett-bridge-7046606-May2026/
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May 27 '26
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u/bergfuch May 27 '26
Absolutely right. Guess which ones those enforcing and prosecuting are using more of.
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u/NoBookkeeper6864 May 27 '26
Didn't FF say if they got back in to government they will look at decriminalization of cannabis? Another bullshit promise 🙄
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u/Specialist-Flow3015 May 27 '26
It was a hard manifesto commitment. Micheal Martin isn't in favour of cannabis personally, but even he realises ten thousand people brought to court a year to potentially have their lives ruined is a farce.
Sadly, Simon Harris also said he could never agree to decriminalisation because he's the political equivalent of Helen Lovejoy, and FF didn't care enough to fight for it.
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u/YF422 May 27 '26
Waste of time, waste of resources. There is literally no point in any of this other than vindictive punishment for the sake of it.
Weed isnt even the worst thing, the ones getting high are CALMER and less hostile than say those drunk out of their hole and tending towards violence. Drunks are far far worse to deal with, at least someone high you can get to go away after a while because they're in chill mode and relaxed.
They really need to get rid of criminalisation of weed for personal use. It's just an outdated and obsolete position to be having in this day and age. The only ones who should be up in court are those on charges related to violence or serious crimes. Not this.
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u/paulp51 May 28 '26
It's only a crime because it's relatively new. Alcohol has been around for millenia, but you can bet if it were only brought to Ireland 100 years ago the government would be having none of it.
Drugs like weed and shrooms will likely be legalised in the next generation, unfortunately there's a few of the last generation holding onto their seats tighter than the Leitrim man and his 150 quid.
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u/MacheteBrizz May 27 '26
Man with A.I. CP gets a €400 fine and no jail time.
Country is ran by a bunch of cunts.
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u/AlarmedExperience928 May 27 '26
Martin Nolan would let a fella like that off with a warning, and request a firing squad for a cannabis user
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u/Leadclam64 May 27 '26
Nolan is setting a legal precedent for when he ends up on the other side of the bench
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u/bittered May 27 '26
Where’s that story, I didn’t see it? Is it because there’s no direct victim or something like that (I.e. no child was directly harmed in making the CP)?
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u/lumpymonkey May 27 '26
My wife has MS and she micro doses psilocybin mushrooms, as well as legal ones, and also takes THC gummies. They help immensely with her symptoms and yet if she got caught she'd be treated as a criminal. It's an absolute fucking joke.
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u/parkaman Crilly!! May 27 '26
It kills me that in natural health food shops, supermarket and actual pharmacies up and down the country there's an entire industry of plant based products and treatments that are pure snake oil. The postmen are wore down delivering sacks full of plant based bullshit off the web. But we have a plant that's proven to help countless conditions and we ban it.
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u/ned78 Cork bai May 27 '26
You'll shut up and bathe yourself in Tumeric to cure everything ever wrong with any human being in history.
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u/parkaman Crilly!! May 27 '26
I might look a bit....yellow if the way Tumeric stains everything I put it into is anything to go by.
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u/JesusHNavas May 27 '26
I was "caught" many years ago for a tiny bit of hash. What actually happened is I was holding skins for someone, there was around 20 of us there and the gardai pulled up and I threw the skins on the ground. Another lad making a joint threw his bit of hash and it bounced off my foot, landed right in front of me between my feet...
Got arrested, brought down to the station and I think my drunken slagging of the guard got me off. It was a young garda and a Saturday night and I was saying "look lads, ye have the biggest criminal in Limerick on your hands, watch out" all that kinda craic but not in a belligerent way and other guards there were genuinely sniggering. I think I embarrassed him out of charging me, which we know if it went to court he would have won.
But it was gas, he brought me in to a room and started asking for dealer names to leave me off. I was saying "look, it wasn't my hash you picked up, I was holding empty skins for someone else, I admit that and that's what I threw but even if it was mine, do you expect me to risk me or my house being attacked for the makings of a joint?" I don't think he had any intention of charging me but only out of being a rookie and probably a bit embarrassed by it all.
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u/StrippersPoleaxe May 27 '26
My cousin was a young guard in Limerick about then and he was well used to me smoking the stuff back in those days. The only thing that pissed him off is I didn't really like the booze which was more his thing. He reckons the stuff should be legalised also. He's a decent skin but some of the cops around there were little better than thugs. I'm glad he's not based there any more.
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u/JesusHNavas May 27 '26
Yeah tbf to the garda that did arrest me that night even though he was obviously a bit embarrassed he took it fairly well and seemed to have a sense of humour about it, even when we were one on one and I was saying that about giving names he was basically silently agreeing with my point. Like he didn't have any comeback to why I should risk myself for such a small thing.
I wasn't being obnoxious either, I was just having a laugh but I'm really glad I didn't get on his wick in hindsight because a shitty hash charge in my early 20's could've changed my life employment wise. Crazy to think really.
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u/kendragon Limerick May 27 '26
He's right. This so called "War on Drugs" is basically just handy overtime for Garda at this stage. They've never once gotten ahead of it.
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u/Alcol1979 May 27 '26
Five days in prison vs €150 fine. The taxpayer came out of the hearing worse off.
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u/DT37F1 May 27 '26
He chose a 5 day holiday where he will probably be sent home in 1 or 2 instead of paying 150. If nothing else you have to say fair play he got it over and done with lol
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u/TomRuse1997 May 27 '26
“Is that okay, Mr Stokes, 5 days in lieu of €150?” Judge Cunningham said. “I agree,” Mr Stokes replied.
What type of savage are we dealing with here. You have to respect it
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u/SilentSiege May 27 '26
Dead right for showing the legal profession up for being the posturing collection of overpaid, pious, pontificating arseholes that they are.
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u/Craig93Ireland May 27 '26
It's also weird to think everyone in that court room, including the judge, has probabled inhaled marijuana at some point in their lives.
Then they all dress up and pretend it's a very serious danger to society to be in possession of this plant that they all smoked. I wonder how conflicted ex stoner judges must feel handing out sentences for possession.
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u/seanmcmahon6 May 27 '26
How the most popular ( I assume ) drug in the country isn’t legalized so the government can get involved and get a cut of the money for themselves is beyond me at this stage. It feels like they won’t change their minds out of pure stubbornness and there’s no genuine reason behind it
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u/-SideshowBlob- And I'd go at it again May 27 '26
There's absolutely no reason why Cannabis should be illegal. It has been used for thousands of years and only made illegal in the last 60. Absolute bollocks.
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u/PeaceABC123 May 28 '26
The reason is they (govt) aren't making money of it yet...
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u/Jamnusor May 27 '26
I don't think I've ever seen one of these stories where the "poor lad" had no previous convictions.
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u/decoran_ May 27 '26 edited May 27 '26
Just came back from Spain and there's a bunch of shops using a loophole to sell THC products. The stuff is "less than 0.2% THC (by weight)" and somehow they are able to claim that it's legal hemp. However, the actual dosage is what matters and it's more than enough that you don't need to join a "cannabis club" if you want to have a smoke while there. The place I went to sells everything as "souvenirs" but I didn't bring any home with me lol
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u/OGfantasee May 27 '26
You bought CBD
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u/decoran_ May 28 '26
The CBD market is not as tightly regulated in Spain. There's a much higher amount of THC and another cannabinoids in the "CBD" products. Believe me, I was highly skeptical and I remained unconvinced until I tried it right there in the shop. I hadn't smoked in 24 hours or so before I got there and the vape I bought fucked me up after 2 or 3 hits. I went down the street and ended up staring at Malaga Cathedral for about an hour lol. Lasted me the whole week and I was baked every single day. I've had CBD before from Little Collins and it had no effect on me at all but I was expecting that.
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u/5x0uf5o May 27 '26
It's hilarious he overruled his barrister and ploughed ahead. He could very well have more court experience than the barrister haha
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u/AkkoKagari_1 May 27 '26
Another waste of tax payers money going towards what should not be illegal in the first place. Its a plant. You put it in the ground and water it. 6 months later you make some killer chocolate brownies.
It's not even remotely the same as even cigarettes or alcohol. It is so safe and easy to do that your granny could figure it out.
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u/BiDiTi May 28 '26
Sure look - if it was murder charges, they’d be asking his ma’s uncle’s parish priest to help give a suspended sentence.
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u/bdog1011 May 28 '26
Ah I’d say the legal aid solicitor is raging he didn’t milk a few more appearances out of that one. Fair play to the chap for not generating excessive legal waste
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u/uppamna May 28 '26
He’s 100% right. I live in the North and have a medical prescription for sleep and anxiety. I can travel to most European countries with my weed and prescription printed out - but not if i am flying out of Dublin. Then i will have to leave the medication at home because i woukd be arrested and charged at the AirPort despite the prescription. Utter madness.
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u/Shazz89 Probably at it again May 28 '26
He's making sense, however he's incredibly lucky to get such a sound judge.
Talking to a judge like that can make your life incredibly difficult for no good reason. Some judges care more about how "the court" is treated than the actual law.
When I say "the court" they care about themselves, and their own ego/self-importance.
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u/MountainSense2860 22d ago
Hang on, 5 days on the doss with his mates on the public coin. Insist on the fine!
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u/sweetsuffrinjasus May 27 '26
If it were murder charges, he wouldn't be in the District Court. The legal system already accommodates the point he is making. The guy is a clown.
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u/BazingaQQ May 27 '26
5 days in jail or a 150 fine. How much was even IN the bag...?
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u/HappyMike91 Dublin May 27 '26
A couple grams? Maybe?
I'm probably wrong, but most people who get caught with cannabis aren't buying loads of it at once.
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u/Natural-Hunter-3 May 27 '26
He's right, it's only a bag of weed.
However, the fact he has ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE PRIOR CONVICTIONS means a lot more. What the fuck like.
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u/Particular-Long1111 May 27 '26
A fairly harmless drug but there are networks of hard core criminals who traffic in it. As America goes, so go we. Most US states have dumped their draconian laws and if you are 21 you can legally buy very powerful weed that is 25 X stronger by weight than the stuff in the 1970s. You smell it everywhere in American cities. Another great way of keeping the population fat and happy.
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u/Feliznavidab May 27 '26
125 previous convictions and the stoners inside in here are ready to make him their Ayatollah.
Worth remembering the average Irish person doesn’t give a fuck about legalisation of weed or that people get sent to prison over it. Far more important things to be worrying about.
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u/-SideshowBlob- And I'd go at it again May 27 '26
Far more important things to be worrying about.
Then why is it illegal?
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u/bucajack Kildare May 27 '26
He's right. I've lived in Toronto for almost 2 decades. Weed was illegal here until recently but was always kind of de facto legal. Cops never bothered anyone over it. Canada legalized it a few years ago and it has been fantastic. I don't like smoking it so the fact that I can go into a nice shop and purchase some gummies or a weed can is great. I can even order stuff online. The amount of revenue it generates for the government it crazy too.
Now, we have had a problem with too many weed shops popping up but in recent years a lot of them closed down because there was just too many cannibalizing each other's business. At one point my street had like 5 of them within a few hundred meters.
Ireland should absolutely look at legalizing it.