Flanagan: Legal cannabis would net €300m for the Exchequer

Legalising cannabis and opening Amsterdam-style coffee shops all over the country could be worth up to €300m for the Exchequer and would take millions away from criminal gangs such as those which murdered crime journalist Veronica Guerin, Independent TD Luke “Ming” Flanagan claimed yesterday.

The Roscommon-South Leitrim TD launched his Cannabis Regulation Bill 2013 which would legalise the use of cannabis and allow people to cultivate up to six plants in their home or grow the drug for commercial purposes.

Mr Flanagan, who reiterated he only used the drug outside of this country, claimed revenue to the Exchequer could reverse the harmful budget cuts to the elderly such as the Bereavement Grant and the cutting of young people’s dole payments.