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Venezuelan army helicopters fly over the Sierra de Perija national park, west of Caracas where poppy and marijuana plants are often discovered (2005). Associated Press

Poll: Do you support the 'war on drugs'?

A group of 1,000 politicians, celebrities and campaigners are calling for a shift in drug policy.

A GROUP OF more than 1,000 campaigners, celebrities, law enforcement figures and politicians – including the likes of billionaire Warren Buffet and US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders – have called for a shift in global drug policy from emphasising criminalisation and punishment to health and human rights.

Their open letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the war on drugs has failed. It comes ahead of a United Nations special session on the subject in the coming week.

In Ireland, the Oireachtas Justice Committee last year strongly recommended that the possession of a small amount of illegal drugs be decriminalised – following months of research and public submissions.

This evening we’re asking: Do we need to shift global policy away from the ‘war on drugs’?


Poll Results:

Yes. (7402)
No. (4146)
I'm not sure. (983)
No interest/no opinion. (274)

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A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

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92 Comments
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    Mute John Jones
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 6:49 AM

    Mattress amnesty- they’re taking the Mick.

    181
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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 8:42 AM

    @John Jones:
    He’ll be OK. His compadres will spring him.

    37
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    Mute Aine O Connor
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 8:29 AM

    Would make more sense if it was a collection service for those who have no way of transporting bulky items like mattresses .

    141
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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 8:14 AM

    only clean mattresses. ..the problem is it’s old &dirty mattresses people want to get rid of

    175
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    Mute Ivan Connolly
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 7:03 AM

    This kind of innovative thinking makes me proud to be Irish. I couldn’t even imagine a better way to blow €200,000. Unless of course we spent it providing everyone with a little of the same drugs Naughton is taking. The whole thing might make a bit more sense then to everyone else who might have thought it was a brain fart of an idea that should never have made it past the underpants naughton should be wearing on his head.

    104
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    Mute Gavin R
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 6:20 AM

    Mattress amnesty I’m really confused.

    62
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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 6:50 AM

    Mick is turning himself in – for crimes against advertising.

    38
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    Mute Louise Tracey
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 6:30 AM

    Any locations in Cork?

    24
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    Mute Noel Martin
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 9:18 AM

    I forked out €90 for 3 single mattresses at my local amenity centre, no wonder there being illegally dumped on a regular basis

    41
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    Mute Eoin Scanlon
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 9:21 AM

    @Noel Martin: you think they’re cheap for the council to get rid of? They’d half fill a skip. Not an excuse to illegally dump.

    20
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 9:38 AM

    @Noel Martin: the more people are charged the more they will dump, when will this get through to the thick FG mind?

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    Mute Gavin R
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 9:43 AM

    @Noel Martin: I can see a mattress levy been introduced on all new mattresses, there putting it on everything else.

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    Mute Shoot Thepiano
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 8:04 AM

    Oh give it a rest and put this issue to bed

    28
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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 11:50 PM

    @Shoot Thepiano: very true. Important to sleep on it when making decisions like this

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    Mute Chris Mansfield
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 9:45 AM

    I’m sure the people who manage to find a way to transport mattresses to dump them in remote rural locations can find a way to transport them to an amenity centre.

    28
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    Mute Andy mc Laughlin
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 4:24 PM

    In Australia they have a kerb collection once a year where you can put out what you normally can’t get rid off and the council picks it up works quiet well

    19
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    Mute Kath Noonan
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 12:52 PM

    Mattresses being dumped illegally are done so for a reason. Accepting only clean dry mattresses won’t solve dumping. All mattresses no matter what condition should be accepted.

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    Mute wattsed
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 8:57 AM

    Reactionary decision, should’ve slept on it.

    13
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    Mute Siobhan Rosemary
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 11:21 AM

    They are probably collecting the mattress for their homeless hubs!

    11
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    Mute Reuben Gray
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 9:41 AM

    I don’t get it. One can break down a mattress in about 15 minutes with a stanley blade and cutters. Once the springs are cut apart, the mattress doesn’t take up much space.

    Standard mattress of course, one of those memory foam ones would be a very different story.

    8
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    Mute Jane Alford
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 11:27 AM

    Where, apart from Tuam, are the Galway collections? I could do N.Tipp too…

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    Mute Jane Alford
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 11:30 AM

    @Jane Alford: bummer. It was on Saturday. Journal on the spot as usual…

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 3:30 PM

    Why do it during the Summer? They should wait until Spring comes.

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    Mute John Walsh
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 12:43 PM

    What sort of people dump mattresses? A joke. What about a dog crap amnesty while they are at it.

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    Mute Data Backup
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    Mar 6th 2023, 1:40 PM

    the going rate is 50 euro to remove a mattress , this is the reason they are dumped and cause litter problems across the country they should have a markup to recycle , http://www.mattressmonkey.ie

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    Mute The PURGED
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 3:50 PM

    I hear they would make good flower beds lol

    1
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