Pubdate: Fri, 23 May 2014
Source: Irish Times, The (Ireland)
Copyright: 2014 The Irish Times
Contact:  http://www.irishtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/214
Author: Eoin Dillon
Page: 15

DRUG CRIME AND SENTENCING POLICY

Sir, - It may not be popular, but it needs to be said - the sentencing
of Pat Scanlan to 15 years in prison for importing 4.8kg of cannabis
is monstrous ("Restaurateur jailed for 15 years for importing
cannabis", Home News, May 21st).

The merits or otherwise of cannabis can be debated; what is absolutely
certain is that its criminalisation has done nothing to diminish its
popularity, and it has been freely available in Ireland for over 40
years. It has remained popular because people who use it know it is
not in any way equivalent to heroin or other hard drugs. A sentence of
15 years is completely out of proportion to the crime committed, and
in due course will come to be seen as barbarous. - Yours, etc,

Eoin Dillon, Ceannt Fort, Mount Brown, Dublin 8.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt