New Events

National

no events posted in last week

Blog Feeds

The Saker
A bird's eye view of the vineyard

offsite link Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz
Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb

offsite link The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker
Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog.? We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below).?

offsite link What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker
by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are

offsite link Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader
2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of

offsite link The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker
Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by

The Saker >>

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Human Rights in Ireland
Promoting Human Rights in Ireland

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link News Round-Up Wed Dec 25, 2024 00:32 | Richard Eldred
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Starmer Doesn?t Have a Feel for Politics and His Team Lacks the Skills to Run the Country, Says Vete... Tue Dec 24, 2024 19:00 | Will Jones
Keir Starmer "doesn?t have a feel" for the Labour Party or politics in general and his team lacks the skills to run the country, veteran Labour MP?Diane Abbott?has said.
The post Starmer Doesn’t Have a Feel for Politics and His Team Lacks the Skills to Run the Country, Says Veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Church of England Tells Clergy to Edit Christmas Carols to ?Avoid Unnecessary Offence? Tue Dec 24, 2024 18:00 | Will Jones
The Church of England has told clergy in Birmingham to watch out for "problematic words" in Christmas carols that imply Jesus is the "true Messiah" or other religions aren't valid. And they wonder why the pews are empty.
The post Church of England Tells Clergy to Edit Christmas Carols to “Avoid Unnecessary Offence” appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Best-Selling Hybrids Face Net Zero Ban From 2030 Tue Dec 24, 2024 15:42 | Will Jones
Some of Britain?s best-selling hybrid cars will be banned from sale after 2030 under a?Net Zero crackdown?proposed by Ministers, including the mild hybrid versions of the Ford Puma, Range Rover Evoque and VW Golf.
The post Best-Selling Hybrids Face Net Zero Ban From 2030 appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Experts Call For Return of Lockdown-Style Social Distancing as Flu Surges, Claiming ?a Fifth of Thos... Tue Dec 24, 2024 13:46 | Will Jones
Experts?have issued an urgent call for lockdown-style social distancing ahead of Christmas Day amid surging flu infections, claiming that a fifth of those infected have no symptoms but can spread it.
The post Experts Call For Return of Lockdown-Style Social Distancing as Flu Surges, Claiming “a Fifth of Those Infected Have No Symptoms But Can Spread It” appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Campaign for Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act

category national | rights, freedoms and repression | other press author Tuesday October 05, 2010 17:16author by F.S.author address Sneem, Co.Kerry, Ireland. Report this post to the editors

Support needed for Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act

We are looking for help funding, campaigners, donations, time, leaflets anything possible to further the advance of Medical Cannabis. We aim to send material to every doctor ,every police station and every political official in the country until an adequate response is enforced. We want as any many signatures statements and opinions from these people to further help the campaign. Although many will disagree with the use of Facebook as a medium for change, the Facebook page for the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act 2010 (http://hempirl.webs.com/compassionateuseact.htm) has over 5,400 likes and the plan is to push this to 100,000 so if you use this vehicle please like, suggest to all your friends and post a plea for more likes on any relevant page in your spare time if possible.

My name is F. S., I am a fourth year student of Herbal Science(BA) in the Cork Institute of Technology. I am in the process of securing herbal clinical training and will study medicine if I can afford it. My grandmother a Kurd, used two grams of cannabis a night postchemotherpay with great result, until her medicine was found and due to the plants stigmitisation she discontinued its use and died several months later. I never got a chance to meet her. This summer I volunteered for two months with WAMM (www.wamm.org) a non profit cannabis dispensary. I lived in a tent in the garden, worked in the office and attended the weekly meetings. Valerie allowed me to collate the data of a strain specific oil study based on their four strains which are (sativa, sativa dominant, indica dominant and indica), this was double blinded and will count as part of my undergraduate degree. Whilst there I encountered people who regressed from AIDS to HIV, weaned themselves of up to two dozen medications, regressed follicular lymphoma (one in the stomach completely and one from the size of a grapefuit to the size of a walnut in one patient), completely palliated all seizures in several epileptic patients, palliated pain, palliated glaucoma, palliated PTSD with suicidal tendencies/bipolar/depression and the list goes on and on.

The time is now to elicit change. There is no morally feasible argument that interferes with the alleviation of pain, of suffering and fear of mortality. Every educated human being must at this stage realise that placing cannabis in a scheduling system that makes it more illegal than cocaine, heroin, crystal meth and considers it of no medicinal value is a fallacy that cannot continue. We must review the whole drug policy internationally and change it into a more realistic system based on education rather than incarceration, but that it is a separate cause in itself. However, many claim it will happen soon, dont worry, but we need to move now, cause as much wind as possible and when the dust settles have it in place for future generations. Please help now, please contact me if you wish to or can help in any way no matter how small.

F.S.,

Related Link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Compassionate-Use-of-Medical-Cannabis-Act-2010/140483342633867?ref=ts#
author by RBpublication date Tue Oct 05, 2010 20:17author address author phone Report this post to the editors

This wont work. The man who 'created' this act is a fanatic and has ideas of grandeur. He has seemingly been deceiving people left, right and centre. Beggers ears say he split the cannabis legalisation movement in Ireland.

Ah well. Watch out for Gordon/Daithi I guess?

author by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite partypublication date Wed Oct 06, 2010 13:20author address author phone Report this post to the editors

But I reckon legalising it for medicinal use is a bit like a campaign to legalise water or food for medical use. The legal profession have no competence on drug issues, or we would have heard challenges to the backward legistlation over the years.Most doctors I've talked to know the score(they checked the schmorgasbord as extra-curricular activity while studying)but aint gonna rock their hegemonic little craft. Several have cheered letters I wrote to the press over the years, but dont go telling anyone I said that. The usual gutlessness.

Ming for president.

author by CleanNowpublication date Wed Oct 06, 2010 13:40author address author phone Report this post to the editors

We're already the drunks of Europe
All we need now on top of that is to be the stoners of Europe.

The one plus is it might improve tax take and increase tourism. Albeit tourism from the meanest grubbiest undesirable cheapskate element who will stay in cheapest accomodation and buy nothing but drugs and hang out in all our public places stoned out of their brains. Lovely scenario

author by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite partypublication date Wed Oct 06, 2010 14:17author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Not everyone who smokes gets out of bed looking for the makings.Not everyone who enjoys a drink gets up looking for the whiskey tit.
There are those who keep a bit of balance. Quite a lot of damage gets done by the puritan abstainers.And a LOT of damage has been done by the prohibitionists who open the doors for the sort of armed gangsterism that takes over once these substances are thrown to the illegal black market.
Maybe you think we should wait till the kill-rate gets a bit closer to the Mexican level?I've lived and worked in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. I never encountered the smack, coke or pillhead problems we have and nothing like the random violence thats growing all the time(and I dont give flying fart what the statistics say).
But then your ideal tourist is probably a respectable golf-playing corporate white-collar helicopter-borne piece of starch with a stash of Euro-dollar credit skimmed off the backs of the flunky 'jobs' created to elevate us to a green republican servitude in the name of the sacred corporate economy.
Most of our drug victims are still alcohol powered. Mentally retarded by ethyl in its many forms(and I like a pint).I have yet to encounter a smoker starting trouble.
Listen to the pharma ads for their magical life enhancing products and tell me again why weed is illegal.If you are too nervous to risk your chemical virginity by trying some of the readily available street drugs at least read up on the history of the banning of weed in the US and its transfer across the Atlantic. Its all about mafia control.Read the history of Britannia's opium wars and know who controls its derivatives.These people do not voluntarily relinquish gold-mines.

author by CleanNowpublication date Wed Oct 06, 2010 14:36author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I never said stoners were violent like drunks. Just grubby cheapskates hanging around stoned everywhere. Maybe if we had state chocolate and crisp sales to stoners in public places we could capitalise on the mass munchies.

Seriously though, smoke cannabis if you like. But the fact remains, it is an insidious drug that saps motivation and dulls the mind. It's most often smoked with tobacco so it encourages nicotine addiction. I know because I used to smoke myself. It's a waste of time and should not be encouraged in young people. As to whether drug policy works, well I agree, it doesn't and it only magnifies petty crime and corruption. But the fact remains, the Irish as a race are not known for their ability to take drugs in moderation. Probably because our society does not encourage responsibility of any kind. Until such a time as this mindset is changed, giving us more drugs is a recipe for further social problems. Mark my words. As far as I can see from walking about at the weekend and looking at the A&E statistics, We are just too immature to handle the freedom to take drugs.

author by Marcus McSpartacuspublication date Wed Oct 06, 2010 18:45author address author phone Report this post to the editors

... and he or his colleagues get insulted by one commentator, and the other commentators argue about recreational use. How is this superior to stoner discussions?

Medical Marijuana use has been legalised by several states and jurisdictions in the US, (even while the Federal Government pursues it under the guise of regulating interstate commerce) on humanitarian and empirical grounds. There are rational and humane arguments that can be based on observable phenomena in favour of this; they at least deserve the same in response, without throwing ad hominem, straw man, or non sequitors at the proponents.

Related Link: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3376
author by CleanNowpublication date Wed Oct 06, 2010 19:36author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Come on. We all know that allowing legalisation for medical purposes is mainly just a way to get recreational use legalised by the back door as has happened in the US. I'm not saying it doesn't have medical uses. And God knows some of the legal drugs they pedal for similar purposes are far more harmful in many ways.But lets call a spade a spade here. Nobody insulted anyone. Just making a point about how irresponsible the Irish are in regard to substance abuse and how giving them carte blanche to do the dog on yet another drug may not be as good an idea as people think.
However looking at how ineffective the anti drugs legislation has been, I can't really see how much worse it could get at this stage if they legalise. Anyone who wants it can get cannabis in any town in Ireland. If we legalise then at least johnny would be getting his chronic from the local shop instead of from the local drug pusher and he would be paying tax which could go towards rehabilitation programmes (yeah right. bailing out banks more likely!)
However personally I think we have higher priorities right now than all getting stoned. We need clear heads to get through the times ahead. I thought it was rather cynical the way Lenihen reduced the price of drink while stealing all our money and giving it to banks. Almost as if to say "stay drunk you idiots while we finish robbing you blind". He'd probably legalise the weed in the morning if he thought it would distract us further from what he is doing. Probably great timing for this campaign really!!

author by Dr. Murphypublication date Thu Oct 07, 2010 11:57author address author phone Report this post to the editors


To so-called 'clean now'

I just want to reply to one thing, because I cant be bothered wasting my time talking to someone who has had a negative experience and clearly has a personal vendetta/problem. I work, I have a wife & kids, I studied hard to get to where I am, and to be honest, it was cannabis that took me out my trap in my grubby little estate where I grew up an alcoholic ('legal' definition). So here you see it is very different to your scenario. I know doctors, lawyers, professors, teachers, banking officials - who all smoke cannabis regularly. So go way with your typical stoner image.

If cannabis should remain illegal then lets get the cigarettes and alcoholic into the bracket too. And another thing I find specifically damaging to society is bad food and television -the biggest apathy encouragement in the whole world. So make them illegal, why not? No, its ridiculous. And no we have a mouth-piece for the status quo here giving us advise on what 'stoners' are really like.

Anyway, the one thing I wanted to specifically responded to was this statement - 'If we legalise then at least johnny would be getting his chronic from the local shop instead of from the local drug pusher'.

No, if we RE-legalised (because it was legal before Harry Angslinser, don't know his name? YOU SHOULD) cannabis then at least Johnny will get the highest quality cannabis from a professional. It would be regulated and the effective compounds of cannabis would be balanced so as to have the highest possible quality available in the world. Then we could pass an act that only allows cannabis to be cultivated with a restriction on the levels of THC produced. The cannabis would also be free from harmful chemicals such as metal, glass and plastic, AKA, ''contaminated weed''. But I don't think you care about any of this. You probably reacted lazily and apathetically to getting high. It dint work for you so now your stuck in your own world about cannabis. Well it worked for me but I can see both sides, and I say, you have no right to say what I do and don't put into my body and the state has no right either. Cop on.

author by F.S.publication date Thu Oct 14, 2010 23:20author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I invite anyone to tell a grand mal epileptic that they shouldn't smoke cannabis although they haven't responded to any other drug (25% are unresponsive) and even though it may have palliated their condition completely.
I invite anyone to look in the eyes of someone who is terminally ill and tell them that the one thing that is making them see past the pain and enjoy the last few moments of life on earth should stay illegal for them.
I invite anyone to tell someone who vomits regularly and cant eat and are wasting away from chemotherapy that they shouldn't be allowed to try cannabis.
I invite anyone to tell someone that they should stop taking cannabis to halt the progression of their glaucoma, when this is the only think that has worked for them.
I invite anyone to tell someone that was suicidal and now lives a happy life that they shouldn't be using cannabis.

I have met dozens of people that are happy, alive, comfortable, can eat, can sleep, have come to terms with their disease and their fear of mortality through cannabis. Only an inhumane ignorant bystander that hasn't spoken to those in pain, suffering, and those with a fear of death can make any form of argument against medical cannabis. I have seen people laugh and be happy in face of unsurmountable odds. I have seen people defy all odds due to the medical virtues and the profound shift of consciousness that this plant catalyzes.
Cannabis could replace many benzodiazepines, opiates (or reduce the need of when used concomitantly), corticosteroids, pain killers, and many other drugs in many situations for many people.

We need people to believe that we can make a difference and try everything in our power to shape a new better reality. The more support we gather, the more enlightened minds stand up and voice their concern the better. This is not about helping people do drugs, it is about helping those that are suffering and in pain. People are suffering for no reason. This must stop. Please help push this cause in anyway you can.

WAMM members painting memorial rocks for dead members
WAMM members painting memorial rocks for dead members

Related Link: http://www.wamm.org/aboutus.php
author by petepublication date Fri Oct 15, 2010 14:25author address author phone Report this post to the editors


If people wanna smoke or ingest it some other way,why the hell not,tobacco is far more dangerous to one's body.. and that is legal.

And it is not the most addictive drug,there are very few people who use cannabis whos lives are destroyed by it.

If people can use (even 'harmful'),drugs in a safe enviornment,with proper hygiene there might be fewer drug related diseases.

Not to mention legalising cannabis will rake in plenty of tax revenue for our greedy government,and who knows , it might keep the greedy b**tards off our backs!

author by Gordonpublication date Mon Oct 25, 2010 20:16author email hempirl at gmail dot comauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

In reference to the first comment, there are only one or two people who have had a bone to pick with me over the draft legislation I wrote. The reason being a senior member of L.C.I. ripped me off and then they got offended that I would not allow them to use my writing to further their agenda. This is a personal attack and nothing more. I challenge the author to tell us who I have deceived?? L.C.I. have been charging people €20 a year to march down O'Connell St. with little else ever being done throughout their 15 year existence. I realised as a patient I had to draft this legislation myself as nothing constructive was being done. Given my experience operating a medical dispensary in California, I am familiar with the laws in place there and in other countries. If L.C.I. or their leaders have an issue with me it is the fact that I have accomplished more in 6 months than they have in 15 years. I had tried several times to mend the fences between us for the sake of the campaign but it appears their egoes are more important than patients rights. It would appear they have tried to sabotage the campaign out of jealousy.... shame on the person who wrote that, he and I both know who he is!

Number of comments per page
  
 
© 2001-2024 Independent Media Centre Ireland. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by Independent Media Centre Ireland. Disclaimer | Privacy