No

It is less harmful than alcohol and has medical benefits. Criminilisation does not prevent use, it only causes buyers to support an underground unregulated market.

Cannabis prohibition has been just as ineffective, inefficient, and problematic as alcohol prohibition. Cannabis is objectively less harmful than alcohol to the consumer and to society. It is less toxic, less harmful to the body, less addictive, and less likely to contribute to violent or reckless behavior. Adults should not be punished for making the safer choice to use cannabis instead of alcohol, if that is what they prefer. Regulating cannabis like alcohol will replace the uncontrolled illicit market with a tightly regulated system. By legalising and regulating cannabis, authorities actua…  Read morelly know who is selling it, where it is being sold, when, and to whom. In jurisdictions where cannabis is legal, it is produced and sold by legitimate, taxpaying businesses instead of drug cartels and criminals. These businesses will be required to test their products and adhere to strict labeling and packaging requirements that ensure cannabis is identifiable and consumers know what they are getting. Government resources should not be wasted arresting and prosecuting cannabis consumers.

Marijuana is arguably better for you than alcohol; it has many positive uses; it doesn’t hurt anyone; and the government could tax and regulate it the same as alcohol, making it safer and also deriving funds that could be put to good use.

Not regulating cannabis leaves the profits in the hands of criminals, no tax revenue is collected, consumers are not protected from harmful synthetic or other adulterants being added. Children have easier access to cannabis in non regulated markets also.

Marijuana has been proven to be less harmful than currently legal drugs in Alcohol and Tobacco. Legalising and regulating the drug, using the taxes earned from the sale of Marijuana to fund harm reduction and education on substances in schools & rehab centres will help further destigmatise drug addiction and help addicts get help that they need.

Making marijuana illegal does not make it disappear, since it’s not regulated by the government people growing and distributing it can add harmful chemicals to it or it will simply be too harmful to use. Drugs will always be used no matter what, so at least make sure people aren’t harmed while doing so

The tens of thousands of cases that shows the positive benefits of therapeutic marijuana use to treat and ease numerous ailments, and how it has been a net positive for every country that has adopted legalisation policy.

It is a natural substance with plenty of medical and therapeutic properties used by many people to self medicate in supplement of this country’s failing mental health services

Illegal Cannabis is a subsidy to criminal organisations. If you legalised and regulated it, it would be consumed like alcohol and the producers wouldn't be doing murders on the side.

Marajuana is already a very commonly used drug in Ireland and making it legal would make it easier to keep users safe and make sure the drug they are using is safe

The regulation of the drug industry is the only option; there is no other. It will continue to be used no matter what penalties are introduced, and the best thing the government can do is legalise it and tax it

i think this argument is dated and there's been numerous studies based on how marijuna has had a huge effect on people for medical reasons and the legalisation of marijuna would stop petty crime and make sure the use is done in a safe environment

Legalizing marijuana offers several benefits, including economic growth through taxation and job creation in the cannabis industry. It also allows for better regulation and quality control, ensuring safer products for consumers. Additionally, legalization can reduce the burden on the criminal justice system by decreasing arrests for marijuana-related offenses, allowing law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes. Medical use of marijuana provides therapeutic benefits for various conditions, such as chronic pain and epilepsy, enhancing patients' quality of life. Overall, legalization promotes public health, safety, and economic development.

By decriminalizing Marijuana, we help make this drug which is as harmful as alcohol and less harmful than cigarettes less likely to become a gateway drug to harder stuff. As well as this, we ensure that when people do Marijuana, they have a clean batch which helps decrease the liklehood of a Fent problem here like they have in the US. To add to this, this could be a great revenue stream for the government which theoretically should lead to lower taxes for us. However, that depends on the government.

You will end all illegal selling and stifle criminal organisation. This has been backed by nobel laureates such as Milton Friedman

Marijuana has low addiction potential, proven benefits and low risk, certainly much lower than alcohol, for which few people reasonably advocate a ban.

You can't walk through town without smelling it everywhere anyway, clearly the demand exists. At that point regulation and taxation is the next best step. I believe a system like Spain would be ideal.

The legality of alcohol ruins lives every year, people will smoke cannabis regardless so why not legalize, tax and regulate it. The income every year can be huge and this will undercut the synthetic market

The legalisation of marijuana would bring in more money to the country than anything ever has. It will also help people with addiction problems and substance abuse to fight such problems when it is regulated, tested and approved officially and not just graded "banging" by some local drug dealer. Legalisation and regulation will also contribute to less and less underage smoking and use of marijuana just like licensing the sale of alcohol has done. Legalisation would also see an immense decrease in antisocial behaviour, violence and hate/fear of garda presence and/or interaction and would allow gardai to focus on real crime like rape, murder, kidnapping and theft/fraud. It would also encourage positivity within communities, businesses and towards local authorities.

Alcohol should also be illegal if marijuana is. Both can be abused. Both are fine in moderation. Making a substance illegal is only giving power to the black market and increases crime.