Hello and welcome to the weekly roundup where each Sunday we look back at some of the news items making the headlines over the past seven days.

On Monday it was reported that a man found with €1,200 worth of cannabis is to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of six months in prison

On Tuesday it emerged that a man jailed for possessing a suitcase full of cannabis will find out next week whether his conviction will be quashed

On Tuesday it emerged that a father and son who set up a cannabis growhouse have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

On Tuesday it was reported that according to one study cannabis is roughly 114 times less deadly than alcohol

On Tuesday it was reported that potency increases the risks associated with cannabis

On Wednesday it was reported that more than eight kilos of herbal cannabis, worth more than €160,000, has been seized at a house in Dublin

On Wednesday it was reported that Jamaica is to decriminalise small amounts of pot and establish a licensing agency to regulate a lawful medical marijuana industry

On Wednesday it was reported that a grandfather appeared in court after he was arrested for selling €3 worth of cannabis in a Kinder Surprise egg to an undercover garda

On Wednesday it was reported that some feel Ireland needs EU assistance to keep drugs out of Europe

On Wednesday it was reported that the NUI Galway Students’ Union is to hold referendum on cannabis legalisation

On Thursdsay it emerged that The boss of one of the country’s biggest drugs and homeless services believes the introduction of mobile treatment units would help clean up the capital

On Thursday it was reported that the District of Columbia has defied threats from US Congress and moved forward with legalising possession of marijuana after a voter-approved initiative

On Thursday it emerged that under proposals to reform the Gardai that the National Drug Unit is to merge with the Organised Crime Unit, while other specialist squads will be either be beefed up or restructured

On Friday it was reported that Garda whistleblower John Wilson has called for a “rational, mature” debate on legalising cannabis in Ireland, given its widespread use

On Friday it was reported that a Clare resident paid €200 to hold €30,000 worth of cannabis has been given a three year suspended sentence

On Friday it was reported by Newstalk that entrepreneurs are rushing to cash in on canna-business in the USA

On Saturday it emerged that a man told gardai that he had cannabis plants in wardrobe after they called on another matter

On Saturday it was reported that Washington DC has legalised pot despite Republican threats

On Saturday reports of Howard Marks tribute event in London appeared in Irish media

On Saturday it emerged that Garda drug units across the country have seen their numbers slashed by 30% in the last four years

Articles

This week there were two blog posts regarding Howard Marks. The first was one I wrote on my experiences with Mr.Nice, while my friend Richie wrote a guest blog on his time with Howard

Activism

This week NUIG SSDP hosted Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and Garda whistleblower John Wilson on the campus for an information night on their referendum

SSDP Ireland also did some radio appearances during the week which you can catch up with here