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LAST UPDATE | 10 Mar 2022
(Note: This is an updated version of an article first published on 5 March, now reflecting sanctions on Roman Abramovich)
THE OLIGARCHS ARE on the run, both figuratively and literally.
Literally speaking, there are reports of superyachts linked to Russian billionaires being moved to places likes the Maldives, away from the grasp of western authorities.
The risk of not doing so was highlighted last week when France confirmed it had seized ‘Amore Vero’, a $120 million yacht owned by oil supremo Igor Sechin.
Dilbar, a $600 million yacht belonging to Alisher Usmanov, is stuck in Hamburg and won’t be going anywhere soon.
The story of the superyachts is something of a sideshow to the horror of what’s happening in Ukraine, but it’s also instructive as to how Vladimir Putin’s invasion has upended everything he has shaped since he took over in the Kremlin in 1999.
For the oligarchs, Putin already shifted the balance of power in a Russia they once dominated but now their very future is under threat.
For the uninitiated, who are the oligarchs and where do they fit in the current situation?
The Russian Federation
In short, Russian oligarchs are the business tycoons who rapidly accumulated wealth during Russia’s privatisation of state assets after the breakup of the Soviet Union.
These men, and they are almost exclusively men, took advantage of these chaotic years to amass ownership stakes in huge companies producing oil, gas, coal, metals and more.
During the 1990s, these oligarchs were usually close to former Russian President Boris Yeltsin. They funded his political activities and wielded great power.
A new era
With Putin’s succession from Yeltsin, the new Russian president sought to consolidate his power by bringing many of the oligarchs to heel.
He did this in a number of ways. Firstly closing tax loopholes that allowed the billionaires to avoid tax. Putin also nationalised mass media, giving him and not the oligarchs influence and control.
He also imprisoned those who did not comply.
For example, Mikhail Khodorkovsky was once thought to be Russia’s wealthiest man with a fortune of $15 billion in 2003.
Like other Russian tycoons, Khodorkovsky made his fortune from controversial loans-for-shares auctions to privatise Soviet state assets. He built his now defunct Yukos oil company into one of Russia’s most transparent and successful firms and financed opposition parties and charities.
He was arrested at gunpoint for financial crimes in 2003 and spent the next 10 years in prison on charges his supporters said were revenge for daring to oppose Putin.
Khodorkovsky now lives abroad after his release but others suffered a different fate.
Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky died in odd circumstances while exiled in London.
Berezovsky was found by one of his employees on the floor of the bathroom at his house in the upmarket town of Ascot in 2013.
A post-mortem found his death consistent with hanging but the coroner at the inquest recorded an open verdict. In 2008, Berezovsky’s Georgian business partner Badri Patarkatsishvili was also found dead in his south London home, aged 52.
His death was put down to a heart attack, but Patarkatsishvili’s fall-out with Putin and controversial political career in his home country raised suspicions of murder.
Putin’s people
For the oligarchs that remained, their wealth grew but the relationship with the Kremlin had changed completely. They were now operating within the confines of what Putin allowed.
Journalists who’ve reported on Russia in the past 20 years have picked apart this relationship in detail, even alleging that oligarchs and their businesses operated on Putin’s direction.
Speaking last week on BBC’s Newsnight programme, Reuters correspondent and author of Putin’s People Catherine Belton explained that the example of Khodorkovsky showed the oligarchs what would happen if they didn’t follow Putin’s will.
“Once Khodorkovsky was in jail and his oil company was taken over by the State, each and every one of the oligarchs realised the same thing could happen to them, that they depended on the good graces of the Kremlin to retain their fortunes,” she says.
They had to carry out tasks for the Kremlin and indeed, one of them even told me that if you get a call from the Kremlin saying spend 1 billion or 2 billion on this or that strategic project, you have to comply, you can’t refuse.
Roman times
The oligarchs also realised that remaining in the good graces of Putin was not sufficient to ensure their freedom and their billions.
For many, the answer came in bringing their wealth to western countries to not only invest but to create a profile they hoped might shield them from the Kremlin.
The most famous example of this if of course Roman Abramovich, who brought his cash to London and bought Premier League club Chelsea FC.
Abramovich was today sanctioned by the United Kingdom due his “close relationship” with Putin and the “material benefit” he has received from the Kremlin.
Abramovich grew up as an orphan from a Jewish family in the far north before becoming a businessman, making and selling rubber toys.
During Russia’s murky privatisation period he managed to emerge with controlling investment in the oil company Sibneft. In 2005, the 73% Abramovich-owned Sibneft was sold back to State-owned gas behemoth Gazprom in a deal worth $13 billion.
The aforementioned and deceased Berezovsky was a business partner of Abramovich’s, but unlike Berezovsky he kept a low political profile and was rewarded with the governorship of the vast, far-eastern Chukotka region.
After this, Abramovich set his sights on Chelsea and bought the club in 2003.
The move has been spectacularly successful on a footballing level, with Chelsea winning the Premier League five times, the FA Cup five times and the European Cup (Champions League) twice during the Abramovich-era.
As he now looks to sell the club, Chelsea are currently the Champions League and Club World Cup holders.
Any sale is now seemingly impossible however, at least for Abramovich, on foot of the UK government’s decision to sanction him.
The sanction freezes Abramovich’s assets, meaning that he cannot benefit from any sale, but what it means for Chelsea generally is unclear.
There are suggestions that the club may still be sold if Abramovich effectively hands the deal over to the UK government.
The move against Abramovich has come following much pressure on the UK government, but now that it’s happened it also lays bare the UK’s view on his links with Putin.
Confirming the sanctions today, a UK government document states that Abramovich is:
associated with a person who is or has been involved in destabilising Ukraine and undermining and threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, namely Vladimir Putin, with whom Abramovich has had a close relationship for decades.
“This association has included obtaining a financial benefit or other material benefit from Putin and the Government of Russia. This includes tax breaks received by companies linked to Abramovic, buying and selling shares from and to the state at favourable rates, and the contracts received in the run up to the FIFA 2018 World Cup.”
Until now, the ownership of Chelsea provided Abramovich with a foothold in British society, a legion of defenders and a complex business interest in London that insulated him from Moscow.
That protection first began to look shaky in 2018, following the Novichok poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in the UK.
The near-fatal poisoning of the former Russian intelligence agent was blamed on the Kremlin and the UK government was forced to examine the swathes of Russian money that had been flooding into London.
An investor visa for high-wealth individuals that Abramovich had been using to do businesses in the UK was not renewed and his future in the UK became unclear.
In the four years since, Abramovich’s visits to the UK became increasingly rare and he took out the Israeli citizenship he was entitled to on account of being Jewish.
War
The pressure Abramovich faced in 2018 is nothing like what is currently happening to oligarchs around the world following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A total of 862 Russian individuals have now been targeted by sanctions from the EU. These include sanctions on politicians as well as businesspeople.
In a joint statement last weekend, G7 nations announced they would set up a “transatlantic task force” to “identify and freeze” assets belonging to those facing sanctions.
Even Switzerland, a neutral non-EU nation that has for years been the financial hub for the mega rich, has indicated that it would follow the EU sanctions.
Roman Abramovich's Jet P4-BDL Took off from Jebel Ali, Dubai Emirate, AE. pic.twitter.com/Z0cFdhRu9i
— Russian Oligarch Jets (@RUOligarchJets) March 4, 2022
Others who have been sanctioned by the UK today include:
Previously others already sanctioned include Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who has had ties to Arsenal and Everton football clubs.
Mikhail Fridman, who was born in Ukraine but is one of Russia’s richest men, has been forced out of the $22.3 billion London/Luxembourg investment firm LetterOne. His business partner Petr Aven has also left.
In short, the net is closing in everywhere.
“They’re terrified because obviously everything that they’ve built over the last 30 years is now melting down before their eyes,” Belton told Newsnight.
They’ve become slaves to the Kremlin, they have to follow Putin’s wishes but that’s always been a kind of a mutual assured destruction pact which has been now exploded.
“They always kind of permitted him to lead to some degree because he was the guarantor of stability, they benefited from his rule, just as much as Putin benefitted from their cash, but that pact has now been exploded completely.”
- First publish on 5 March
How about legalising it for medicinal purposes first?
@The Risen: how about just legalise it full stop. Take the criminal gangs out of the equation and collect the vat on it.
@The Risen: Hopefully a competent politician can step forward to legislate for this.
The last attempt while well intentioned was a shambles and was written so badly it would have wreaked havoc to proceed and so failed to pass the senate.
Then for some reason, folks decided to blame that FG pharmacy owner citing vested interests, which is fine if you wanna be a sore loser, but if we actually want to offer medical marijuana as a legit option, the motions put forward need to be well written, otherwise it cannot pass the senate. Blaming senators for voting no, who did so on legislative contradiction grounds, completely cops out on the work required to solve the problem.
@Ciarán Ó Fallúin: “how about just legalise it full stop”
Oh, I agree 100%. But I think it would be faster to legalise it first for medicinal use, getting it to the people who need it the most as quickly as possible.
@The Risen: putting words in my mouth. (The other fella, Mr Maher said that). I’d agree with you though, it’s easier to legislate in stages and those who need this most should be prioritised.
@Ciarán Ó Fallúin: Yep, clicked on the wrong reply button there. it was @ Thomas.
@The Risen: how about pushing for both lets walk and chew gum and get this legalised,The green party are a bunch of sellouts who wrecked the country in 2009 in the crash but The majority of Irish would be ok with this, its the drink industry blocking it cause it would empty bars and ER’s of their customers.and cost them profits when people dont need to binge drink to relax, be it a magic cake or an edible.
Also cannabis for medical use has massive benefits that big pharma would prefer not allowed in Ireland. Be it for recreation or medical use, Ireland could benefit from cannabis if it was legal and properly regulated and produce to a high standard that drinks and pills sold in Ireland are. It would also reduce crime and lost of taxes to the black market drugs trade another group who do not want cannabis legalised.
@Matthew O’Kane: “The majority of Irish would be ok with this, its the drink industry blocking it cause it would empty bars”
Legalization will not cause the bars to empty, just like legalizing gay marriage didn’t cause society to crumble or abortion the same. It’s about choice.
I am an adult, I should be allow make choices for myself because I am of legal age to take full responsibility for my actions as long as my actions do not harm or cause distress to other people.
@Matthew O’Kane: I agree. It will empty bars. A big reason why it’s not available for medical reasons.
@Oscar Scatters: Exactly Oscar, thats the real crux of the matter. Stop its prohibition and allow adults to make up their own minds, I would suggest however that for recreational use the age limit should be 21.
@Thomas Maher: I agree fully with decriminalisation for cannabis and think the Green Party are making a good move to move beyond bulbs and bikes and appeal to younger voters etc. But I don’t understand how people seem to think that criminal gangs will walk away from ‘the equation’ as you put it- that makes no sense , it just isn’t logical to expect criminals to stop dealing because there are coffee shops – same as cigarette black markets – too lucrative and simplistic to think this makes them stop. All the evidence from Amsterdam would also indicate that just because there are legal coffee shops that the criminals flee – quite the opposite actually. I still think Ireland should decriminalise – but lets not pretend that makes criminality go away !!!!!!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/20/netherlands-becoming-a-narco-state-warn-dutch-police
@Frank Cauldhame: 18
@Dave Hammond: Nobody said they would go away, but i would prefer to see the tax revenue from sales ploughed back into the country instead of some faceless dealers cashpile.
@Gus Sheridan: Reason I say 21 is that cannabis ‘can’ affect the developing mind for a small minority of teen users. Better to be safe than sorry.
@Niall Quinlan: So does alcohol!
@Frank Cauldhame: If you’re old enough to vote you’re old enough to toke.
@Dave Hammond: I don’t know anybody that thinks crime will disappear once cannabis is legal?
@Gus Sheridan: I think 21 would be safer not that its going to kill anyone but for the reasons outlined by the above posts.
@Dave Hammond: Good points Dave but if it was sold legally in ‘coffee shops’ people wouldn’t have to enter seedy parts of the city to buy it.
@Dave Hammond: the reason criminals still involved in cannabis in Netherlands is because it only becomes a legal product when it lands in the coffe shop. Growing is not legal. So the Netherlands government are effectively laundering money
@Frank Cauldhame: because we’re in America all of a sudden? Or the more dangerous alcohol should be the first drug of choice? Or because making kids be only ones who stay in the illegal system makes sense?
@Frank Cauldhame: why?
@Thomas Maher: you know that it would be over priced and people will go back to the steel for it. A pint of Guinness is cheaper in London than it is in Dublin.
@The Risen: They did?
@The Risen: this needs to be legalised for anyone who is suffering chronic pain and believe me you it is intolerable
@The Risen: why first ? Why not both ?
@Matthew O’Kane: would empty ER’s, utter nonsense. You would have increased volumes in ER’s. You seriously people will not use and drive impaired, cars, bikes, buses?
Should never be legalised. There’s a reason the UK rescinded the more lax laws they brought in on cannibals use/possession….
Medically prescribed I have no issue with, but legalising for social use. No thanks….
@Rónán: when someone gets too high they say “nah man I can’t drive yet I gotta chill here a few” a drunk dude will fight you for his keys. You’re just delusional if you think there would be MORE ER visits. I’m not saying there’ll be less because the drunks won’t stop drinking but it’s not gonna be someone stoned taking up that bed
@Thomas Maher: you got a perfect point
wickr.. buyspacemonkey or whatsApp +1 (470) 231-8854
to get some quality caned weed for your self
@The Risen: you got a perfect point we are out here on the back ground waiting to open dispensaries
wickr.. buyspacemonkey or
whatsApp +1 (470) 231-8854
to get some quality caned weed for your self
First decent Green Party policy in over a decade!
@David Grey: Seems their whole agenda has worked – find something, anything, to get them noticed again.
@Sandra O’Fucáif: “The reefer butt is called a roach because it resembles a cockroach”
@David Grey: wouldn’t go that far
Repeal the 8th of an ounce.
@Ciarán Ó Fallúin: Brilliant!
@Ciarán Ó Fallúin: Comment of the year so far!
Well, someone’s bitter.
@: You have no idea
All I know is I got my hands on some medicinal cannabis for my arthritic knees …. just trying out of sheer desperation and phobic about knee replacement. Couldn’t beleive the difference after a few days , no waking at night feeling like a volcanoe in my knee , able to enjoy walking around town again, it was nothing short of miraculous…. . What is criminal is the governments blocking access to this amazing medecine.
@marie
If you don’t mind me asking was it oil or cannabis herb. Did you smoke it or vape or what was the process for taking it?
Asking for a friend.
@john doe: asking for myself … arthritis in the knees taking away the quality of life !
@john doe: small bit of research will inform u on most effective ways to ingest. Needless to say, mixing with tobacco is the worst u can do. Vaping seems safe, edibles safe. Many ways an products out there.
@Marie Thomas: i hope they will also give us the chance to sell discreetly
wickr.. buyspacemoney OR
whatsApp +1 (470) 231-8854
to get some fire>>>
Whatever about the cafes, it would be common sense to have access to cannabis-based medicine.
it’s about time tax it and regulate it correctly the crime levels will drop and the country benifit from the taxes it’s a win win
@Mick Mccabe: Unless you’re an idiot.
@Mick Mccabe: all for decriminalisation …. but do you honestly think criminals will just forgo that source of income and not turn to something else?
@Pablo: Well, they can open their own shops and start a legal business.
@Pablo: look at the American states where they have it legalised the crime levels have dropped and that has been proven but there will always be crime no matter what unfortunately but we have to move forward and stop living in the past if it’s done correctly it can benefit the country in more ways than 1 tourism taxes ect
“How do you do, fellow kids? ” – The Green Party.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: This is The Green Party’s main policy for government should they get into power after next election.
@Jamie Jj Tobin: if it is then I will vote green and smoke green
@Jamie Jj Tobin: As much as I am completely on-board with this – I still wont vote for the f*****s
@Gavin Conran: and that is exactly why it won’t happen.
@Gavin Conran: how about caring about the environment or climate change? You probably don’t care about either do you because if you did the greens are the only party taking these issues seriously
@Jamie Jj Tobin: I’d trust a heroin dealer before I’d trust a Green Party politician
Best of luck to them trying to get that in. I’ve never tried, dont think I will, but the medical benefits cannot be ignored. It could help a lot of people.
Should be lagalised fully.
It’s a no brainer . The sooner the better .
Finally a party that lives up to they’re name
@Darren Coyle: Class
@Darren Coyle: beat me to it ;)
Great idea, beats the current “Sweep it under the carpet, if you can’t see it then it’s not an issue” approach of the main political parties..
Certainly would also bring more tourists to the country who want to legally enjoy cannabis too.
Remove the profits from drug dealers and send the taxes to the state..
Nice idea but knowing the Green Party they would somehow want massive taxes as part of it. They love the high taxes.
@Slim Jim: attack the only party trying to prevent climate change by focusing on possible tax increases as at least 150,000 people die annually from droughts caused by climate change. You and those who liked your comment are why this planet is doomed
@Marcus Briody: they took part in destroying this country and rotated their TD’s so they all got ministerial pensions. They are a bunch of cowboys.
The green party are a bunch of sellouts who wrecked the country in 2009 in the crash but The majority of Irish would be ok with this, its the drink industry blocking it cause it would empty bars and ER’s of their customers.and cost them profits when people dont need to binge drink to relax, be it a magic cake or an edible.
Also cannabis for medical use has massive benefits that big pharma would prefer not allowed in Ireland. Be it for recreation or medical use, Ireland could benefit from cannabis if it was legal and properly regulated and produce to a high standard that drinks and pills sold in Ireland are. It would also reduce crime and lost of taxes to the black market drugs trade another group who do not want cannabis legalised.
@Matthew O’Kane: so how would you have solved a 24billion budget deficit combined with a banking system tens of billions in debt and double digit interest rates on Irish bonds? The greens didn’t cause the problem they had to deal with it and I have not heard anyone else tell me how it could have been handled any better. You would have done the same because there was no other option available.
What they did do in government was bring in legislation to start dealing with climate change, you know the greatest problem facing humanity today that people like you clearly don’t take seriously because if you did you wouldn’t be attacking the only party trying to do anything about it while also pushing a liberal agenda
Welcome policy initiative from the Green Party.
I will now consider voting for them again, something I haven’t done since they went in with Ff.
This is not a radical policy and only follows what is already happening in many European countries and American states.
The coffee shop part, while I have no objection to it, might be better as stage 2 of the policy with stage 1 being cannabis clubs for permit holders and growing for personal use as is already in place in Spain, Portugal etc.
Good to see a debate on this important personal freedom beginning.
Well done Greens
Imagine……………
Got my vote
No drug was ever improved by handing control to criminals. Recreation is fine . Addiction is a health problem.
High times this happens. Current approach is a bit disjointed
It Is beyond absurd to give anyone a charge for smoking cannabis .
They won’t open these come up with a million different reasons not to. Yet open a center that gives a free kit to shoot up heroin.
It should’ve been done years ago. If people want to use it then let them use it in peace.
Eamon “AFROMAN” Ryan is taking sense, legalize it already, silly Old Testament gobble dee fook law, medicinal properties of MCD oil etc are apparent to all who need it. Cannabis itself could be a very good industry for the exchequer and hemps properties and uses are to many to mention. A no brainer (no pun intended)
Legalise it fully, we dont even need to trial it as other countries and states have done that for us. Has any of them said it was the wrong decision? No. The tax this country would make on it would be a lifesaver at a time when our health system is severely under funded. Yes it would take a huge chunk of profits away from the criminal gangs but they will regroup and find other ways of making money, so all we can do there is hope that our guards and judges are on point during the criminals transition period. I feel we need to move fast as if the uk gets there before us then this could cripple our tourism industry but on the other hand if we manage to get this through first then we will see a large increase in tourists from the uk. Yes there is negative effects, 1 being people abusing, over using. An idea would be to start focusing on educating people on the risks of this now rather than after it passes. If im wrong please share your thoughts, maybe there is something im missing.
@Adam McLoughlin: https://mils420dispensary.com/
Story bud do ya need any bud ?
Anyone interested in Irish cannabis/hemp history will enjoy the Dublin Hemp Museum podcast.
People with medical needs cant get it, yet these headbangers come out with this pie in the sky…
@MickNev: if you bothered to read the document, you’d see that legislating for medical use is also part of their proposal.
A joint Oireachtas report about joints
@Dave Thomas: Good man David.
Ireland own Cheech & Chong party, both sitting in dail eireann trying to look drunk like all they rest. I wish this party would except some responsibility for their strategy policy’s while in government. Carbon taxes that make pensioners choose between food or warmth during winter months. Handing out 1000 euros in grants to people which inflated the peddle industry which has lead to more cyclists dying on our roads. Keeping Bertie and FF only stoner in power while lying about Ireland needing a bailout. PD’s, Greens and labour were only in it for the champagne lifestyles while corruption flourishes around them.
@leartius: the effect of the carbon tax has been highly exaggerated what they did was to finally start taking action on climate change, which is killing 150,000 people annually in the third world because of droughts and has changed our winds so we have had northerly winds for months. The greens are the only party thinking long term you are clearly living in the past and attacking the only people trying to prevent the destruction of the planet
Any Garda on here? I’d like to hear their opinion on this.
@Gerry Ross: There are approximately 7 million Garda Journal users
@Gerry Ross: Retired ,and i dont agree with it,
@Gerry Ross:
Who cares for there opinion, the people elect the politicians and the politicians will legislate based on what they campaigned for and the Garda will do as there told through that legislation, that’s how it works, the Garda have lots to say about the effects of alcohol every weekend but no one is listening, alcohol has a much bigger impact in society in a negative way.
@Elvis King:
Get back to work Elvis
Why ?
@Elvis King: Sorry i read you comment wrong , i am not a retired garda, gard , i am the other kind of gard
@Stephen Kennedy: Because he likes to be on the wrong side of arguments.
Probably the only way they would get any vote after the mess they made when last in power.
Don’t they bring this up every few years and nothing ever happens?
Whatever about criminalising ordinary joes…legalizing it won’t get rid of gangs
@BigSFLou..ny: It certainly won’t, but it will enable adults to blaze a wholesome bowl of green legally. To sum up: Legalise, regulate, tax, enjoy.
@Honeybadger197: ye no probs…but some people think the criminals will all of a sudden be out of a job and will become honest 9-5 workers…pfft
@big sf
They won’t disappear but a huge part of their funding stream would be cut off by legalisation
@BigSFLou..ny: I don’t care about the job prospects of some dealer. I would prefer to see adults enjoy an occasional bowl and see the taxes generated benefitting the country. :)
@Honeybadger197: legalize defo not decriminalize. Although I don’t think we are ready socially. The model in the Netherlands still has major crime element involved.
@Mondo: I saw someone shared an article about that above. Must have a read of it.
@john doe: yep and they will need to fill that vaccum….
@Honeybadger197: I am all for legalisation but be aware that dealers will switch to selling harder drugs. ALL drugs need to be legalised.
@Honeybadger197: it’s a complex process. The Portuguese legalized drugs in 2002 an we are only starting to fully look into this now. It’s defo the model I would look to. Also the selling of alcohol an cannabis together is prohibited, they don’t mix well. Would u post that article if ye get a chance??
@honeybadger
In my opinion, the reason that Netherlands are having the trouble they are, is that they have a sensible approach for personal use but have left they supply side a crime and therefore controlled by criminals.
Full regulation including the supply side is what is required. Let’s learn from their mistakes as well as their successes (afaik they have lower rates of teen cannabis use than we do)
@Honeybadger197: thanks. Agree 100% with John Doe. Interesting article but leaves out the massive discrepancy that they allow criminals to be involved in the cannabis business. That’s why I’d be for legalizing rather than decriminalize. Completely bypass the criminal element.
@Mondo: they mix really fu(kin well..
@Honeybadger197: cheers for that
Only in Ireland. Parents bringing ill kids to coffee shops for treatment.
Brings a whole new meaning to ‘hash tags’, and ‘happy hour’.
We should probably tackle the Class A problem first. Those cafes will attract drug addicts hanging around otherwise.
@alan
There are already drug addicts hanging around.
In states in usa where cannabis has been legalised opoid related deaths have been decreasing. An unexpected positive outcome of legal cannabis.
The first cafe is to be named “Puff the Magic Dragon”.
The LVA will have none of it
Never Happen
@Ez Hudson: look around at what’s going on elsewhere. Only a matter of time..
Drugs like Drink are one of the oldest things used by man kind. They are wonder products that do so many things from health to house hold to automotive to fashion the list is endless.
I’m sure the green party will add carbon tax like they have in the past to cripple people
@dick dastardly: Emissions from cannabis joints are free for you to enjoy tax free!
Why is the comment section on every article on Jackson/Olding closed?
The benefit of alcohol, cannabis, religion and immersed in viewing televised sport is that these all cumulativley help to keep us pacified and passively content. Add reality TV, talent shows and television dross keeps us diverted.
Bread and circuses keep us going. We don’t need change as long as we are indulged.
Add the lottery and gambling for the full effect of a compliant people.
@Michael Lang:
You write as if your already stone Michael
@courageous: funny that you should mention that.
I had a short lucid interval but now I have an attack of the munchies.
We all know the reason this common sense approach has not happened, and probably won’t, is because of all the golden handshakes passed around by the pharma companies in this country. If the govt won’t legalise full stop, then they need to allow the people of this country to decide for themselves….like they are doing with the 8th Amendment. Have a referendum.
That is the best idea the greens gave ever had. Time to legalise.
Bertie Ahern in breaking news has described the Green Party statement as all smokes and daggers.
@Michael Lang: Yer a hoot Mick!
One step at time, we are very close to some form of legalization in Ireland, let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later and Ireland as a nation is remembered for been a driving force in the emerging green industry.
Lets not forget it’s only a plant and should of never been made illegal in the first place, it’s everyone’s fundamental right to grow and consume what ever plant that wish and that’s simply how it should be!
When nature is made illegal and is been kept illegal you need to start questioning life itself and the country of which you live. Sometimes civil disobedience is the only way forward..
Hempture
Free De Weed
Dew it.
@Jasper Warner: execute order spliffty spliff
Wow Common sense from the green party who usually come out with some amount of garbage, the economy would boom if this were ever to happen but you just know it isn’t
Why discriminate against under 18s for access to alcohol and cannabis?
One would think the widespread burning of plant matter is something the Green Party would be against.
Legalise, regulate, tax!! :)
They’re not called the green party for nothing
If you get this across the line I will vote for you but l would much prefer if you tried to get it legalised for people who are suffering from chronic pain.
It’s about time we adopted a grown up attitude to drugs in the country and in particular to Cannabis. The war on drugs has failed and made millionaires out of gangsters in the process. To keep going the way we are is madness. Legalise it and let adults make their own rational chioces about what they want to do and in the meantime collect the tax revenue. Criminals will not go away but it will hurt their bottom line. If it’s cheap enough in a coffee shop why would anyone buy off the street? We have better things for our police and courts to do than arrest and charge people with possession of small amounts for personal use.
De criminalizing cannabis use in a country that can’t handle it’s drink, sounds like a wonderful idea
@League of shadows: I agree that we have a drink problem, but there adverse affects of alcohol are far worse than cannabis
@League of shadows: Not even remotely comparable.
Looks like they’re allready here
It would be the “Green” party ,wouldn’t it
Where you can smoke indoors but only if it’s a joint. No thanks
@ed w: plenty of pubs
Methinks the greens are all stoned man when you hear the dude come out with this really weird stuff.
Its not weird michael. Its fact based policy that has been tried and worked in a number of other juristictions.
Surely We should be letting facts not emotion inform government policy.
It is far far less harmful than alcohol for which we accept regulation as the best model to deal with.
I would invite my partner to go to one of these brown cafes but she insists that we go dutch.
@Michael Lang: good one… would they by any chance have the hash cakes that ya get in the Dutch cafes instead of the joints as I do not not want to go back smoking again and might be tempted . Oh I do want a few to invite some friends around for tea !
@Michael Lang: u do realize that u can’t smoke in brown cafes??
@Mondo: not in the ones I have been in and nice range of nicely priced product. I never inhale, ahem.
The headbangers party!
Did anybody mention that smoking is illegal indoors in cafes, pubs and other public places… not just smoking but vaping is prohibited as well in some cases although not know the lega basis for this – but these cafes would have to be outdoors like the smoking areas in pubs and bars or else we will all be heading there for an indoor ciggie…
I think that the current law and legislation is more of a hindrance then a help and certainly it is ridiculous that we have loads of class A and B drugs prescribed but cannot get class C drug on prescription.
Medicinal would be good. Also decriminalisation of low quantities on a person for personal use would be good too. Making it legal and taxing it would be great for the economy and we all know (Forbes) The marijuana market is estimated to be worth over 20billion by 2020. It’s complicated though and could go wrong quickly. Quality and regulations would be first, then tax, then health and safety for these coffee shops to ensure no second hand smoke or underage are affected. If you want the health benefits of marijuana without getting high, research CBD products. They are great against inflammation like arthritis and acne. They are also great for anxiety, stress, sleeping and moods. CBD products are legal in Ireland as they cannot get you high without THC which these products don’t have. Fun Topic.
I see only benefits if this will happen. More tourists will visit Ireland, also this will be huge bang for economy, less alcohol consumption ( be honest? Alcohol is legal poison, family destroyer and so on ).
People will have legal and easy access to medical marijuana to fight cancer and other illnesses problems. Black market is full of toxic sprayed marijuana to make it more heavier to gain more benefits for people who don’t care about others. Will be more love peace and people will really appreciate this!!!
As long as no tobacco is sold or consumed that is fine.
Will there be a zero tolerance for dopes driving?
Remember Head shops, and what the drug dealers did to them? Expect arson attacks on any cannabis cafe thats opened.
What Green Party ? They are has-been’s. At least they should use common sense and legalise medical cannibis to more than 7 people.
If we are stopped by members of the Force, will they ask us to breath into their mouths.
@Michael Lang: yes, that’s exactly it.
Former Green Party member John Gormley wants a system of tax bands on the weed emissions, if you have really expensive high end weed it’s €5 for 1kg. If however you choose a lesser variety of weed, older but perhaps still a reliable product, the Greens will advocate a tax of €59865 per Kg. The Greens, the gift that keeps on giving.
It’s a difficult one. Making it legal and taxing it would be a plus, but alot could go wrong quickly. Decriminalisation of small quantity should be done alright and access to medicinal forms also. At least CBD products are legal in Ireland to get the benefits of marijuana like help with pains, inflammation, anxiety, stress and mood. If you have arthritis look into CBD products. It will help you without getting you high as they are free from THC which is what gets you high in general marijuana.
It should have been legalised years ago all of the jobs it would have created. The money that it would have made from tax like in California where wine was where they raised the most tax money but now it’s the cannabis that California gets more tax money from also our jails would not have as many people in them so the jail system will be less crowded. Also it is less harmful than alcohol or tobacco no liver disease or cancer from cannabis. It would take a lot of money all of the hand of the gangs and people would not be going to jail for smoking a plant why can’t somebody grow a few plants in their own homes for themselves not harming anybody not even harming themselves but having a bigger ESB bill more money for the government.
Is this a puff piece from the Green Party?
I hope that they are not just blowing smoke or acting the dope.
The nominated spokesperson on this topic is to be Mary Jane Ryan.
It is wrong to say that only skanks take skunk or vice versa.
As the Green Party TD might say. My seat for a spliff.
@Michael Lang: i hope they will also give us the chance to sell discreetly
wickr.. buyspacemoney OR
whatsApp +1 (470) 231-8854
to get some fire>>>
It should be given to the RA, to help them loosen their tongues and tell us where the disappeared are buried,once and for all.
As a Dutch person I am continuously amazed by the ignorance of people like the Greens when they keep referring to the Dutch approach to soft drugs: https://merryjane.com/news/dutch-cannabis-activist-suicide-attempt-netherlands-restrictive-drug-policies
@Evert Bopp: I thought that you exclusively specialized in Referendums? Anti same sex marriage, pro 8th Amendment etc.
Wtf are these clowns thinking. OK, medicated cannabis is acceptable and is fine but the illegal one, seriously, its bad enough citys reek of the smell but if they legalise it, it will make drug dealing shoot through the roof. Brilliant idea guys.
@Dylan Conroy: WOW! If your the sperm that won the race imagine what the ones that lost were like! Please stop contributing to articles you clearly have no idea about. That actually made me laugh.
How do we go about it’s legalization? and how to stop it’s consumption by the under age ?
you got a perfect point we are out here on the back ground waiting to open dispensaries
wickr.. buyspacemonkey or
whatsApp +1 (470) 231-8854
to get some quality caned weed
have your say