Kildare judge criticises pressure to legalise cannabis

The local district court judge has hit out at any attempt to legalise cannabis use in Ireland.

Judge Desmond Zaidan  notes that some states, notably The Netherlands, are trying to turn the issue back to criminal behaviour.

He said research at European Union level had shown that over 70% of regular cannabis users had suffered irreversible brain damage as a consequence “because of smoking dope.”

He said if cannabis is legalised here it will amount to the authorities saying that smoking tobacco is not good for you but smoking cannabis is.

He said extreme liberalism has meant that smoking dope is permitted in some cafes in The Netherlands.

He said at Naas District Court that people often say they use it to combat stress but “everyone has stress in their lives (so) don’t use it.”

According to Euronews, a leading European-based international news channel, smoking weed on the streets of Amsterdam's inner city will soon be banned in a move initiated by the city council.

The destination has long been known for cannabis but, according to the channel, local residents have complained that is making the centre of the city unlivable. More than 18 million travellers visited Amsterdam last year.

“Residents of the old town suffer a lot from mass tourism and drug abuse in the streets,” the council said in a statement.

“Tourists also attract street dealers who in turn cause crime and insecurity.”

They added that the atmosphere can “get grim, especially at night” when people who are under the influence hang around for a long time.

Now smoking joints in public in the inner city is set to be outlawed from mid-May. If the situation doesn’t improve, the council is considering extending the ban to include the terraces of cannabis coffee shops.

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