Reefer Madness

national | rights, freedoms and repression | other press Tuesday January 24, 2006 12:15 by Charles B.

McDowell says Jail them all

DPP wants change to free up court time.

In relation to the proposed cautioning of those found with relatively small volumes of cannabis on their persons, our 'justice' minister has said that the government disagree with the DPP (and presumabley the Gardai) on the matter.
My reading of this would suggest that Mr. McDowell thinks that all those found with even a nodge(to use the vernacular)should be brought to court, and subjected to the full rigours of the law. However, is it not the case that the reason for this proposal is that the DPP, and indeed the Gardai have realised that this is a waste of court time, and therefore it would be more better to caution those found in possession of a small amount, and to let them off, so long as they admit guilt. (Should one admit guilt? If this occurs and you do admit guilt, will this affect your hearing in court if it goes that far?).
For a long time now, there have been reports in all the regional papers that suggest that those who are caught with small amounts of cannabis for personal use have gotten off quite lightly, with either the Probation Act, or with donations to charities etc.
So if the Gardai and the DPP think its a good idea, why does Mr. McDowell disagree? It seems that he is bent on persuing a very conservative right wing attitude towards this substance that isn't exactly difficult to come by, and that he will persue this route regardless of those who are dealing with it on a day to day basis. I think the DPP realise that having a toke does not a serial criminal make, whilst Mr. McDowell considers those who partake in a spliff occassionally to be left wing pinkos with loose morals and a penchant for subversion. Discuss....