Cannabis factories a ‘major issue’

Recent discoveries of industrial-size cannabis factories and controversial proposals to end alcohol sponsorship of sport underline the seriousness of the issues being examined in the country’s first National Drugs Media Awards.

The drug education competition for second level students, now in its seventh year, is likely to attract entries from across the country and the North this year.

As part of the expansion of the Let’s Talk About Drugs Media Awards, the Irish Examiner has been brought on board as media partners.

It joins Drugs.ie, Crimestoppers, the Department of Health and the HSE in supporting the initiative.

One of the competition’s organisers, Phillip Keegan, said this year’s themes were particularly topical.

The two themes are: ‘Alcohol and sport — who is the real winner?’ and ‘Weed and health — are we making a hash of it?’

“If you take the alcohol issuethe alcohol report is almost 15-months-old and still hasn’t been implemented,” said Mr Keegan.

Mr Keegan said that the issue of sponsorship of sport by the alcohol industry had been a running issue, most recently at the Oireachtas Committee on Transport.

“Maybe students could do some research on the benefits and costs of such sponsorship,” said Mr Keegan.

“Are we sending out the wrong message, having something healthy sponsored by something which is not.”

Mr Keegan, who is co-ordinator of the Greater Blanchardstown Response to Drugs, said herbal cannabis had become a major issue. “Weed is changing, the strength of the product has increased,” he said. “There’s big money in it now and the scale of the recent cannabis factories indicate that.”

He said this year’s theme allows students to examine issues of decriminalisation and legalisation.

There are four age categories: 12-14, 15-17, 18- 20, and 21 and over. Deadline for entries is May 31, and the categories are: Newspaper article; video or animated feature; audio recording; cartoon or poster. The overall winner will scoop €1,000.

* Further details: www.facebook.com/drugs.ie or www.drugs.ie. Twitter: @drugsdotie

Source: Cormac O'Keefe, The Irish Examiner, 29/04/2013