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THE DÁIL HAS defeated independent TD Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan’s motion for the legalisation and regulation of cannabis in Ireland by eight votes to 111.
TDs had been debating the issue yesterday evening and today with many of them welcoming the broader debate on the ‘war on drugs’ in Ireland.
Speaking about his motion this evening, Flanagan cited a number of health reports that say the drug is not as harmful as is widely claimed and pointed to the potential tax revenue that legalisation would result bring in.
He said that if the 150,000 people that are currently estimated to be using cannabis spent €100 per month and paid 13 per cent tax, there would be a yield of €60 million a year for the Exchequer.
While most TDs were opposed to full legalisation of cannabis, many welcomed the wider debate on the country’s drug problems.
Fine Gael’s Paul Connaughton said that it was “very easy to knock” the idea of legalising cannabis but pointed out that the drug is “available the length and breadth of this country, in every town, in every village”.
He also accused some TDs of being “hypocrites” expressing opposition to this motion but having “no problem with people having a couple of pints before driving home”.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Flanagan said he was surprised by the reaction from his Dáil colleagues and that he “floated out of the debate yesterday without the use of any psychoactive substances”.
This evening, Health Minister James Reilly said the government will not be changing its policy and spoke about the “serious concerns about the health impacts” of cannabis use.
Most people who use cannabis smoke it and I am vehemently opposed to smoking.
Several TDs who are opposed to legalising the drug, including the minister, referred to it as a ‘gateway’ drug to more harmful substances.
Reilly said that he wants to see “more enforcement” and that the government wants to “present people with the opportunity to achieve a life without addiction.”
He also echoed the sentiments of Minister for State Alex White who spoke yesterday of the government’s plans to allow for the use of a cannabis-based medicine for people with Multiple Sclerosis.
However he commented that while most people agree with the drug being legalised for medical purposes, he said there is “no evidence” of any significant public support for a change in policy.
The seven TDs who voted with Flanagan on the motion were Richard Boyd Barrett, Joe Higgins, Thomas Pringle, Catherine Murphy, Joan Collins, Mick Wallace and Clare Daly.
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Good product. Well done to them.
Brilliant good news story. Well done. Great to see you bringing the jobs back to dublin. Don’t be minding the begrudgers!
Ha. A unicorn that’s (last line) “trending aggressively to becoming a profitable company”!
@Adrian: only applies to the definition of its valuation not its profitability
@Adrian: Twitter has been around over 15 years and still hasn’t posted a profit. Profitability in Tech is not as important as in traditional businesses
@ForeverFeel1ng: You’re joking right? Twitter surviving for 15 years without making a profit hints that it’s being kept afloat for other reasons, just like loss making newspapers.
@ForeverFeel1ng: Said no investor ever. Twitter is being kept afloat like a newspaper making losses: it’s a great propaganda and political agitation tool.
Intercom, isn’t that a communication device used in shopping centres. A mic and a speaker. The simple things, eh! Wish I thought of it.
@Paddy O Sullivan: That’s a tannoy.
Very interesting and innovative business model!
Finally, a powerful, scalable, efficient, growth supporting, and cost effective management tool / business platform capable of capturing and pulling together all channels of communications between likely participators in the global marketplace seeking the particular product or service and the firm offering same.
Early days, but with 25,000 customers already contributing $50 mil in annual Revenues, outlook is excellent for Intercom. Tenfold increase in customer base is a distinct possibility, which would comfortably justify existing valuations mentioned. Clearly, with $241 m invested already, someone has lots of faith!
Congratulations to all concerned!
And btw what is it? A messaging service wow, probably a advanced data collection service. That’s were the money is, apparently. Well done Irish guys! You’ve sold your soul for a few bob.
@Paddy O Sullivan: Jesus you’re some begrudger. They’re making money and putting Ireland on the tech map globally. Selling their souls? Would you rather them be on the dole? They’re working.
@Paddy O Sullivan: Close…but no cigar. It is customer service software actually with plenty of uses. Instead of whinging about it familiarise yourself with the company and the software it provides
I’m a bit uncomfortable with these valuations on, thus far, unprofitable companies.
The FAANG companies are already responsible for a huge proportion of market valuations. I hope we’re not heading for another dotcom bubble.
I wouldn’t be investing in them, they are swelled with VC money, $50mil Revenue is peanuts and VC money will need to be paid back sometime. Their product is essentially a chatbox which is tiresome for website visitors and very expensive compared to free alternatives (Drift etc)
They will be bust in a couple of years, big valuation comes with a price… But hopefully they will make a lot of moneys for them self’s.
This is the type of homegrown success and entrepnurial spirit we need to foster.
have your say