3 Month prison sentence for Portlaoise man (47) caught with €20 worth of Cannabis
An article recently posted on the Offaly live discusses the case of a man, Vincent Wade, who was given a three-month jail sentence for possession of €20 worth of cannabis in Portlaoise, Ireland. The judge justified the sentence by stating that the man's continued use of cannabis was funding drug gangs. The defendant's solicitor noted that he has a certain reliance on cannabis and needs to take the orders of the court more seriously. Despite the minimal amount of cannabis involved, the judge hoped that the sentence would serve as a wake-up call.
Protesters for Cannabis legalisation marching down Henry street 2021
Using this as a base, an argument can be made for cannabis legalisation in Ireland: First, the severity of the punishment compared to the crime committed calls for a reconsideration of the laws related to cannabis use in Ireland. A three-month jail sentence for possessing a relatively small amount of cannabis worth €20 indicates a significant disconnect between the punitive measures in place and the impact of the crime itself.
Second, this case highlights the social costs associated with criminalising cannabis use. The defendant, who was part of a Community Employment Scheme and earning €247 per week, will now have a harder time re-entering the workforce and contributing positively to society due to his criminal record. Legalisation could help mitigate these social costs by decriminalising users and reducing the stigma associated with cannabis use, thereby allowing individuals to better integrate into society.
Third and last, Judge O'Leary's comment about the man's continued use funding drug gangs presents an opportunity for an argument for legalisation. If cannabis were legal and regulated, the profits would be taken out of the hands of illegal drug dealers and gangs and instead could be used to generate tax revenue. This money could then be used to fund public services, including addiction treatment programs for those who need it, similar to how alcohol and tobacco tax revenues are utilised.
In conclusion, the case of Vincent Wade illustrates the potentially disproportionate penalties, social costs, and missed opportunities for public funding related to the current cannabis laws in Ireland. Putting someone like Vincent Wade in prison costs the taxpayers over €80,000/year, while serving no benefit to society. Legalisation could address these issues, presenting a more balanced and beneficial approach to managing cannabis use.
The Judge hopes this sentence will be “a wake up call” and so do I but not for Vincent Wade but for the people of Ireland, to wake up to the injustice being served every day in the courts of Ireland and bring it to an end. Cannabis prohibition benefits only the organised crime gangs. If you want to join the campaign to end Cannabis prohibition then join the Cannabis Activist Alliance today by emailing hello@cannabisreform.ie .
#CannabisReformIreland #BringAliciaHome #FreeJoeWilliams #FreeVincentWade
This young man & medical cannabis patient at the 2021 protest told us of how his home was raided for cannabis & the negative impact this had on his health and life.
