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 other treatments have failed to relieve symptoms."

Today the Joint Committee on Drugs Use published its Interim Report with 59 recommendations. The Committee formed to examine and respond to the Citizens' Assembly on drugs use in Ireland. Report available here: https://t.co/EKWwNrNjXH #SeeForYourself https://t.co/tchnT83mrC pic.twitter.com/2q6krO0FFX

— Houses of the Oireachtas – Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) October 22, 2024

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Committee Recommendations

The Committee held engagements with stakeholders in June, July, September, and October of 2024, which provided evidence from a broad perspective of voices and sectors of Irish society. Arising from these engagements, the Committee made 59 recommendations in its interim report. These include:

• Stigmatization of drug use and the shaming of users causes significant harm;
• That Government introduce a health-led approach to the use and misuse of substances;
• The decriminalization of the person in relation to the possession of all substances for personal use, in line with the Citizen's Assembly recommendations;

• Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1997 be repealed, to give effect to a comprehensive health-led approach;
• Support and health resources should be provided, but no person should be criminalized for not availing of a supportive intervention;
• Local authorities and An Garda Síochana are supported and empowered in strongly discouraging and reducing consumption in public areas; This should be done in an appropriate and sensitive way which considers the complex inter-relationship between problematic use and extreme deprivation and homelessness;
• That specific trauma and harm reduction training be provided to An Garda Síochána and local authorities, to inform their work with individuals and communities affected by drug misuse and addiction;
• The development of clear guidelines for An Garda Síochána to operate within a decriminalized model.

Kenny added that new Government shouldn't say that the decriminalization of drugs for personal use haven't been considered properly. " Both the Citizens' Assembly and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use have looked at the issue in detail. There's still a lot to look at of course, but between the work done by the Committee and the Citizens' Assembly, it's clear that there is a consensus that criminalising and prosecuting the use of drugs for personal drug use is a waste of money and is very detrimental to anyone convicted. The Committee is very clear that the supply and sale of drugs should remain illegal and recognises the huge damage done to individuals, families and communities by drugs and those who profit from them."

He further highlighted that the Committee made these recommendations based on the data provided by Irish medical practitioners, service use providers and users and national and international experts.

The Joint Committee on Drugs Use requested that the issues raised in the interim report be the subject of a debate in both Houses of the Oireachtas.

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Photo: Benzinga edit with images by Alejandro Luengo and Jose Luis Sanchez Pereyra via Unsplash