A group of Dáil politicians have called for the Government to consider legalising cannabis.
The Oireachtas Justice Committee examined the possible legalisation of some drugs, like cannabis, and decided that growing cannabis for personal use, not for profit, should not be a criminal offence.
And the committee also recommended that certain drugs be regulated.
Lawyer and Fianna Fáil TD James Lawless is the chairman of the Justice Committee.
He said: “In selecting this topic, the Committee recognised the ongoing and significant problems with drug addiction in Ireland and the tragic impact this has on societies, communities and families.
“The Committee heard figures during its public engagement that the rate of drug deaths in Ireland ranks at three times the European average and that these figures are among the highest within the EU.
“The written submissions received and, at our meetings, the witnesses provided the Committee with an insight into several areas where it was felt that Ireland’s approach towards drug policies could be re-examined.
“Among these areas include the potential to decriminalise the possession of certain amounts of drugs for personal use; the potential to introduce a regulatory model surrounding drug usage; the potential benefits or drawbacks of such approaches, and the experiences and policies of other jurisdictions in relation to drug use and possession.”
“The Committee has made a number of recommendations for these areas, outlined below, and a copy of this report has been sent to the Minister for Justice.
“The Committee looks forward to working proactively and productively with the Minister to engage with the issues and recommendations identified within its report.”
People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny has published a Bill calling for cannabis to be legalised.
He said: “I very much welcome this recommendation from the Justice Committee.
“It is a progressive move- especially around decriminalisation, the medicinal cannabis access programme, and the drug testing pilot scheme.
“The emphasis is now firmly on the government to move on this recommendation and convene the Citizens’ Assembly on decriminalisation of drugs for personal use.
“The government should now take the People Before Profit bill to decriminalise cannabis possession and make it law.”
In its report, the Committee: “recommends that a policy of decriminalisation is pursued, in line with emerging international best-practice, in respect of the possession of drugs for personal consumption, through appropriate legislation reform, in favour of a health-led approach to problem drug use.
“The Committee recommends the practice of cultivation of currently illicit substances at a modest, non-profit level be examined in light of above recommendations in order to regulate such activity.
“The Committee recommends that steps are taken to introduce a regulatory model for certain drugs.”
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