Kildare Judge’s warning on legalising cannabis and other drugs

The prospect of legalising cannabis, and other drugs, in Ireland was criticised multiple times by a Naas District Court Judge on Thursday, April 27 last.

Judge Desmond Zaidan expressed his concerns during different court cases involving drug offences.

In the first case, he presided over a case involving a man who resorted to stealing to feed his addiction to heroin.

After being told about his personal circumstances by his solicitor, the judge said about his client: "He is an example of why the Citizens’s Assembly should listen to people like him."

He also referred to a separate case of a man who appeared before him, whom he said 'went psychotic' after taking crack cocaine.

"We seriously need to explore the issue (of drugs) more," he said: "This is the liberal agenda, 'let’s legalise cannabis, then heroin and cocaine.'"

He continued: "It’s none of my business, but they are handling it the wrong way, guys."

The judge further said: "We always go on about cutting down on smoking cigarettes, but drugs are OK? They better get ready to start building more prisons then."

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He added that Ireland should follow the Netherlands’ example, referring to recent measures introduced by the nation’s government to reduce alcohol and drug-related public disorder.

Specifically, back in December, Amsterdam’s City Council announced a campaign to discourage foreign tourists from access to activities related to alcohol, drugs, and sex, in order to combat 'nuisance' tourism.

Although cannabis is illegal in the Netherlands, it is not a crime to consume cannabis for personal use.

The judge further said: "A few states in America have legalised cannabis, so why don’t we also follow them with their gun laws?"

He stressed that while he had no issue with medicinal cannabis, he does have an issue with the term ‘recreational usage’ when it came to cannabis.

In the second case, referring back to his initial comments, the judge said: "I don’t mean to be a party pooper, but you see it all the time in court, especially in family law."

During a third case, one which involved a juvenile caught with a small amount of drugs, Judge Zaidan told him: "If you are abusing illicit drugs, there is no shame in seeking help.

"People who give you these drugs are not your friends."