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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Ireland: pot bill plans Labour leader Brendan Howlin declares support for full decriminalisation of cannabis possession in Ireland John Drennan Irish Sun Monday 20 Nov 2017 BRENDAN Howlin has become the first traditional party leader to declare his support for the full decriminalisation of the possession of cannabis. The unexpected support by the conservative Howlin will strengthen the hand of a growing band of Dail advocates for the legalisation of possession of the current Class C drug. Howlin also revealed Labour and Independent senators were currently working on a bill to decriminalise cannabis use Howlin also revealed Labour and Independent senators were currently working on a bill to decriminalise cannabis use Although, he is going to have to fight with his former Fine Gael coalition partners – who remain adamantly opposed to legalisation. Mr Howlin made the declaration at a Labour youth conference in Portlaoise, Co Laois, where he said he supported the party youth wing’s ‘motion on the decriminalisation of cannabis’. The Labour leader said: ‘‘The motion was passed comprehensively and I was one of those who supported it.’’ The issue of decriminalising cannabis will be shortly dealt with in Leinster House courtesy of a joint bill by Labour and Independent Senators. The 61-year-old revealed that Labour Senator Aodhán O’Riordan and the Independent Lynn Ruane are working together on the bill to decriminalise cannabis use. He added: ‘‘We hope to see that bill begin to move through the Seanad over the next few weeks’’. However, the Labour leader opposes separate proposals made by Solidarity-PBP TD Gino Kenny. He warned that there were issues with Kenny’s bill saying that “‘it goes way beyond decriminalisation such as creating a state agency to regulate the quality of cannabis.’’ The Labour leader added: ‘‘Gino has now said he is willing to accept substantial amendments, and has offered to meet all parties before the vote. ‘‘We’ll engage with him and see whether we can find a way to support the bill in principle.’’ TD Gino Kenny has also tabled a bill to legalise marijuana Government sources were more pessimistic than Howlin noting: ‘‘Gino is living in fantasy land if he thinks this bill will go anywhere. ‘‘We are only taking it into the committee to keep him calm. ‘‘Once it’s there we will drown it behind closed doors’’. In an indication of the difficulties the new alliance of Mr Howlin and Mr Kenny will face, a senior Fine Gael Minister also warned: ‘‘Fine Gael is in enough trouble as it is; if you think we are going to be the party who legalised joints in this country there are two chances, slim and none. And slim has just left town’’. https://www.thesun.ie/news/1827866/labour-leader-brendan-howlin-declares-support-for-full-decriminalisation-of-cannabis-possession-in-ireland/
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