It should be legal really. I doubt trading in and consumption is confined to the northside or even to the city. I'm just familiar with the northside suburbs and R district in particular's long established blind eye policy to open dealing in those parts which also extends to cocaine. I would suggest that, these days, the illegal narcotics trade is actually far bigger than the alcohol trade nationwide. In fact, on a global scale, the Kinahan OCG is the largest multinational to have it's roots in Ireland by a long way. I'm not sure how proud we are or should be of that but I really don't see the point of "decriminalisation" i.e. turning a blind eye to the (strictly speaking) illegal trade. All that achieves is enhancing the profits made by so-called OCGs and promoting turf wars resulting in the pointless deaths of scores of kids from deprived backgrounds. Surely, as far as cannabis (at least) is concerned, the trade should be licensed with the quality of the product appropriately regulated.
I delivered a lovely Romanian prostitute from D1 to Baldoyle for Free Now on Saturday night... they're not all pickpockets. In fact, the vast majority of Romanians I know are decent, honest, hard working folk.