Legalize Not-For-Profit Cannabis, Decriminalize All Drugs Ireland’s Legislative Committee Recommends
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use published its interim report responding to 36 recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use, among which is the decriminalization of personal use and possession of illegal drugs.
“The Committee has given a reasoned response to each Citizens’ Assembly recommendation and agrees with all of the substantive recommendations,” stated Committee cathaoirleachDeputy Gino Kenny. “This includes recommendation 17 which calls for the decriminalization of all substances. The aim is not to criminalize possession but to move towards a health-led approach where options around treatment, if needed, can be explored.”
The report comes about nine months after the Irish Citizens’ Assembly of Drug Use issued a report recommending drug decriminalization. Before the publication of the report, then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he would give “careful consideration” to any recommendations to change the country’s drug law.
“I certainly think that shaming people and blaming people and criminalizing people isn’t an effective policy and has largely been rejected by the public, particularly younger people,” Varadkar said at the time.
The Committee also proposes legalization of cannabis, more specifically it suggests that a regulation model similar to Spain, Malta and Germany – a not for profit regulated marijuana market. It further supports the recommendation from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice “for the expansion of the Medical Cannabis Access Program (MCAP), to ensure that more people affected by chronic illness can access cannabis in circumstances where …