Events - Ireland - Cannabis March 2008, an exercise in futility?

[Mint boi]

So my ferret attended the "Free the Weed" Cannabis rally/march in Dublin today.

While he had good fun at it he can't help but think that the whole thing was just a waste of time. He doesn't really see how the group expect to be take seriously.
Don't get him wrong, he's all for protests and such, but this was more of an excuse for a bunch of smokers to get together and smoke/drink in the streets of dublin, than an actual protest. Or so it seemed to him anyway.

The whole thing seemed to have very little political stucture to it, especially for how big it was. Sure, a couple of guys said a couple of things about the safety of illict weed ect, but it all seemed to be made up on the spot, and was more about apeasing the "protesters" than actually making any kind of statement. Maybe my ferret is just becoming cynical, but he can't really see any governmental policy change being implimented because of this kind of thing.

Having said all that, he really does respect the organisers for the sentiment, and for the effort they put into all the banners and flags ect.

Were any other swimmers at the protest? My Ferret would like to hear what other swimmers think! Hopefully he's just being cynical.

[Alfa]

I have seen the same happening several times. Instead of putting forward a political statement in a well thought out happening, no one seems to know what the event is about other than that it is a gathering. To me it seems that there often is a lack of goal oriented organization.

[Coconut]

My computer was in town today. He didn't see the protest itself but saw posters for it around Temple Bar. He assumed it would turn out as mint boi says it did. Doesn't sound very productive.

[Nature Boy]

It's the equivalent of hippy jam festival protest. A friend of SWIM's went and said it was an enjoyable experience but he's a naive chap who probably just had a fun time and didn't realise how counter-productive it was. Marches such as those are simply sneered by the authorities. Lobbying the government and making political in-roads is the key to policy change. Unfortunately however, it is technically illegal for an Irish political party member to hold a pro-cannabis stance. It's a fucking ridiculous rule but it does exist. The War on Drugs mentality is so accepted that it can't even be second guessed on the political spectrum. Futile indeed.

Reputation Comments on this post:

that really sucks

[Lunar Loops]

Originally Posted by Nature Boy

It's the equivalent of hippy jam festival protest.

Sadly, this is exactly how the general populous view it. A bunch of lazy students and stoners whining about pot being illegal.

You have to say fair play to the organisers in one respect for at least making the effort to get the message across, but it is very questionable as to whether or not this is the way to go about it. The main difficulty is that the type of people who turn up to such events are by and large exactly the caricatures that Joe Public would come up with and Joe Public him(and her)self is not interested.

This is the biggest challenge that we face.....APATHY.....even those that do believe drugs should be legalised do not care enough about the issues to actually do anything about it.

[Nature Boy]

It's very difficult for pro-cannabis people to make any difference. I'd compare it how atheists are treated in certain parts of Bible belt America. Their opinion is not respected and they are labelled as some sort of group even though there isn't exactly anything to hold them together. Atheists come from all walks of life and aren't compelled to form influential gatherings that garner respect. It's the same with cannabis users. It seems that the only way to make an impact these days is to come up with some sort of devout partisanship that will force its way onto the political spectrum. Common sense is not appreciated and blind partisanship is. Worrying times.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Worrying times indeed. I like the atheism link, all too true an analogy.

[Lunar Loops]

For those that may be interested, the following link provides a little written commentary, a short video and some pictures from the march:

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87531

[podge]

Gotta appreciate the effort but it doesnt seem to be as productive as we'd like. Most people just want to be able to get stoned when they want, they dont even see the bigger picture of personal freedom infringements. Or so it seems anyway. Since when have protests become an excuse or a starting point for a session ?

We need live RTE debates with some real representitives for once. People who know the facts and will ask the hard questions AND WHO WILL NOT LET THE OPPOSITION AVOID ANSWERING and WILL NOT ACCEPT AN UNSATISFACTORY ANSWERS. There is so many politicians jumping through hoops to avoid and evade questions ( USUALLY BY BRUSHING IT ASIDE AS NOTHING OR BY ASKING A QUESTION IN RSPONSE ) , MAKE THE BASTARD ANSWER THE QUESTION LIVE ON AIR!!!

Sorry for the rant, swim hears so much bullshit that never gets properly challenged on air....which is the most important time to ask the hard questions and push for sensible answers.

[Nature Boy]

Irish politicians tend to tiptoe around hard questions on drug policy. Those shows like Prime Time and Questions & Answers always have rushed debates where little or no ground is covered. They tend to have a pro-cannabis advocate, two conservative politicians, a Gráinne Kenny type possibly, maybe a moderate or a pragmatist all lumped into the same twenty minute spiel where no-one gets a proper word in. That's the downside to TV news media debating. It's a lot like some of the earlier party debates before the US primary elections. You have guys like Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich asking real questions on topics that matter but they never get addressed. The more established politicians throw out a few quick buzzwords and move onto the supposedly more important questions.

Changes in the entire nature of prohibition won't happen until its supporters eventually die out (paradigm shift). This will happen sometime within the next thirty years or so in mainland Europe (Mediterranean areas first, Britain & Scandinavia last I would guess) and it might never happen in the US considering how brainwashed the current generation is with DARE and all that propaganda being thrown at them. Basically, the next decade will shape the future stability of prohibition.