What might happen if Ireland was like Amsterdam and it was legal to smoke in your home each home could grow 3 female plants for there own use and cannabis was used medically people wouldn't have to eat tablets to help them to sleep after a while as we know, sleeping tablets become highly addictive to the user making sleep impossible without the tablets.

I say this will never happen, because people would stay home they would smoke relax, sleep at night and not run to the bars and pubs to drink there liver into a early grave, but however are government and the big alcohol and medical companies WOULD NOT LET THIS HAPPEN. We the people of Earth are the same in everyway except color but we are seen the same way by the governments, alco & Tabbac and medi companies WE ARE MONEY, WE ARE WHAT MAKES THEM RICH!

Dublin 10 year Cannabis Smoker. Legalize the Weed.

Ruby

Sincerely,
Ruby

It's gr8 to sit down here and see the emails that you have written in reaction to Block's post: I dont hear that kind of atttitude on this matter from (what I assume to be) Irish minds.

Block, the song is great: very appropriate too.

The situation in the US is changing, rapidly.
Currently, medi-cannabis may be prescribed in 12 states (with 8 more to vote on legislation this year). Currently it is N.J. , then NY Michagan and I'm not sure about the running order. NJ is this month, soon.
They are currently hung up on the supply issue, and the assurance of quality control. I should think that my interview should clear that one up full-stop. We'll see.

California was the first state in 1994, under Proposition 215 (a californian version of a state referendum). However, becuase it is still federally illegal, the Federal law enforcement agencies have been raiding places where the medi-weed is being grown.

this is obviously unnaceptable, and to remedy this the ACP (American College of Physicians – acp.org) issues a position paper in Feb 2008.
There are a few basic demands from the Federlan US government: for instance: stop arresting MS patients on Federlan warrants who are legally prescribed cannabis medicines in their own home states.
You can read the Position Paper at the link underneath: it is 8 pages.
http://www.acponline.org/acp_news/medmarinews.htm

SEE ALSO THE VIDEO SUMMARY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8uJMyETu1M

When I contacted Joe Costello, the one TD in Dublin who actually picks up the phone himself when you call at random, Spokesperson for the Labour Party on Human Rights and European Affairs, I passed him the ACP report information. After all, the ACP is 'the' largest organisation of internist consultant physicians in the world and also publish the most cited medical journal of western medicine.

I also pointed out to Joe that the Legislative body in the USofA's Houses of Congress (the House of Representatives) have already tabled a Bill in reaction to the ACP report's call for legal indemnity NOW for patients prescribed medicines containing cannabis:
++++++++++
HR 5842 IH 110th CONGRESS 2d Session
H. R. 5842 To provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES–April 17, 2008
++A BILL++ To provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States.
+++FULL TEXT = 2 pages @ http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-5842
+++++++++++++

On the basis of this information I passed onto Joe Costello, he raised it as an issue in the Parliament of Ireland udner the Open Debates
(adjournment) on May 1st 2008. (that was, incidentally, the last day in the Dail as the Phantom Leader, after announcing his …intent… to resign 6 years, one month and one day after the law — that entitles me to travel anywhere in the European Union — came into force in the Republic of Ireland (May 1, 2002).
http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20080501.xml&Node=H15-1#H15-1
He got nowhere… and Dep Kitt (from Galway would you believe it???) actually did the Minister of Fat's job by offering up the answer she "didnt have time to do herself" (KFC had a promo that afternoon?). this answer is the same standard answer given since 2002: and is in rife contradiction to the under the table activities that the fat min has going on behind the scenes with big Pharma concerns and involving "live" patients subjects.
Testing is rigerous, I know. and if the research is already out there and open source: then why not let those people do other things with dignity during the last moments and weeks of their lives? Rather than become test subjects for a foreign company?

It's strange for me becasue I have not been keeping up with the expansion of this super state we live in. The list of embassies that have confirmed the authenticy of this 'schengen medical certificate to carry narcotics and/or psychotropic substances in accordance with article 75 of the Schengen convention' include Romania and Bulgaria I learned from my attorneys.

Also, what I find astonishing, is that the Republicas des Irlandes stymied the entry of some eastern-Euroepan states while BH was El Presidente of the EU Council in 2004, on the very grounds that those states 'had not fully implemented the Schengen acquis to standard in their territories' (acquis is the collective name for the convention and all 'Decisions' made since).

And yet 'Lo and Behold!': it now appears to the Commission that it is the Republico del Dous Points that has been talking out of the side of its mouth and pointing the finger at countries trying to get into the Union, while at the same time not even taking care of business at home.
I remember this fella at school in Ballinasloe BNS who used to always be pushing the other kids around and throwing out random clouts.

That is exactly how Ireland now appears on the front pages of the Dutch press this week as they begin to look into this storyline deeper and deeper. Radio, television, all booked up.
Maybe for people living in a state bereft of healthcare (I base that statement on the emails from Irish MS patients forwarded to me via the PatKenny show)…maybe for people living 'there' : this is "just another one of those sad stories to moan about and be philospohical….. but not here.

++++++

Or are they talking out of the side of their mouth? There must be some method to this behavious somewhere.
The same Schengen Convention signed by Mr "J" O'Donohue (Min of Justice, Irish Rep.) on 28 Feb 2002 [Google: (2002/192/EC)]
was quickly applied as the legal basis for a "flurry" of FF legislation that WAS PASSED INTO LAW promptly by the FF government:
-Special powers of confication of properties (also abroad) (aka CAB)
-Immigration and Naturalisation ACt 2002 (No expence spared!: the deportations commenced already on April 8th, incl. Czechs! & minors, just 7 days later!!!)
-sepcial powers to tap into the Schengen SIS secret police information new-age big brother international database on criminals and suspects.
-other various 'handy' things that the rulers in Dublin Castle thought to themselves: "nice one Brussels".

other stuff in the agreement signed by J ODonohue were just forgotten about: like the clauses on "Civil Protection" and "Citizens Liberties" … so much for the words "Committments" and "Dublin" even appearing in lights together again!!!

For the press here in the Benelux:
the idea that there is a British Company operating in Ireland test tubing "Live" Irish suffering patients for the benefits of "their own" corporate catalogue, with the Minister of Fat's expressed consent; juxtaposed against that government's resolute statements and threats to Dutch patients who are using an "already complete" Dutch product, made in holland, is stalinist protectionism and one does not need to encourage them to want to put a swift end to that whole type of behaviour whereever in the world that they encounter it: this is the home of the free, internal market after all. Thankfully there is a good Commissioner for the Internal EU MArket who will surely and swiftly put an end to this conflicting situation of protectionism in Europe. ( SEE: Eilish O'Regan INDO-Tuesday July 27 2004 -Mind & Body this week: cannabis and pain relief:
"Waterford Regional Hospital is the second healthcare facility in the State to be granted a licence to import cannabis extract for pain relief. A hospital in Cork has also been given the green light.
The trials are being done in conjunction with GW Pharmaceuticals, a UK drugs company which has been involved in similar tests with multiple sclerosis sufferers for the past three years."

SO THERE IS NOW THE SITUATION of this statelet, on the very far edge of Europe; which is about to decide some major shisse for all of the european superstate members:
and yet this is a state that would deny the Human Rights of their own citizens who only wish to be able to visit their ill mother, in order to protect their "digout?" 'protectionist' and preferential 'business relationship' with a multi national British Pharma company:
and this (nodisasgoodasawink) 'agreement' between a 'state' on the one hand, and Big Business on the other, so that a foreign Pharma company can come into Irish hospitals to perform 'secret' research on 'live subjects' (Irish subjects who are dying, did I mention that?) .. and that for an unknown licence fee to hte state, what's more, that company can pack up and head off with all the research information that they have 'harvested' from the (dying) Irish during their 'experimentations' in Irish hospitals with a substance that the state insists, incidentally, is a 'pure threat' to public health. (Launching the National Drugs Strategy in 2002, Noel Ahern even dubbed it "evil".
Well… there I go again: getting confused between the "Amshterdam drugs types" and the cannabis meds I get provided to me by the Dutch Min of Health via my local pharmacy and only on prescription from the GP each, and every, time I run out.

And what about Universal sufferage: my lawers tell me that it is unconstutional to proceed with the referendum on June 12 is the government refuse to permit me to travel unhindered to the polling station at Ballinasloe Boys National School on Sarsfield Avenue at home in B'sloe.
The Irish Authority have already sucessfully blocked me from entering for the General Elections 2007: but I would like to see them try while most of the constitutional lawers working in the various International Courts in Den Haag are watching them unflinchingly.

this will be a lot of fun to watch.

PS sorry if Ive forgotten some of the links, my arms get a little tired after a while)
Bye, and thanks for the "medeleving" (look it up on google translate!@:)

Noel

Hi Savannah,
thanks for your comment on mah blog there, sugah!

Cannabis for medical uses is the same as Willow Bark: aspirin, Foxglove: Digitalis. The only difference being the mind altering inluence, so categorize it as a scheduled/controlled drug. Simple.

But, maybe that's the problem…bureaucrats don't understand simple. Or perhaps it's the issue of the pharmaceutical lobby, and making money?

I do know that medical cannabis is allowed in certain counties in California. Hopefully, groups can lobby using the already present legislation (worldwide) to put pressure on their respective governments and allow for this (compassionate) use.