TDs cautious on drug law liberalisation

The potential affects of liberalising Ireland’s drug laws have to be examined fully before any changes in legislation are made, local TDs have said.

A working group established to review Ireland’s drug strategy have proposed that a public health and harm reduction approach should be taken when it comes to people caught for personal possession, with counselling and other supports provided.

While alternatives to criminal convictions for people caught with small amounts of drugs are being considered, there are no plans for the legalisation or full decriminalisation of illegal narcotics.

In a statement issued to the Westmeath Examiner this week, Deputy Peter Burke said that while he would not favour the full decriminalisation of any illegal drug, he supported the review of the current legislation.

“In relation to cannabis, I understand there are no current plans to legalise cannabis in Ireland. The National Drugs Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, was launched in 2017 and this strategy represents a whole of government approach to addressing substance misuse, focusing on harm reduction and pursuing a public health approach rather than a criminal justice approach to problem drug and alcohol use. In relation to medicinal cannabis, an access programme is to be announced shortly which will have tightly controlled and research-based parameters.

“A key commitment under the strategy was the establishment of a working group to consider alternative approaches to criminal sanctions for the possession of drugs for personal use and a report was issues last month to Ministers Byrne, Harris and Flanagan.

“Its recommendations require detailed consideration by both the Department of Health and the Department of Justice and I have not yet read the report as it is at present unpublished.”

Deputy Penrose said that while he “hates drugs”, he is in favour of review the existing laws as the end user ends up with a criminal conviction far more often that the person who supplies the drug.

“It [overhauling the drugs laws] is not going be easy. A lot of people claim cannabis has medicinal benefits and this has to be looked at first, but objective criteria has to be used.”

Deputy Penrose are “very great concerns that cannabis is a gateway drug”, but there are also many people who claimed that it has “tremendous medical components”.

While he is eager to see “proper medical advice” on cannabis, Deputy Penrose noted that this is also problematic as there are professionals on both sides of the argument, which leaves politicians in an “invidious position”.

“Our own people are also doing research. At first glance anything that alleviates pain and distress, you’d be eager that people could avail of it, but it has to be done under medical supervision and certain conditions. Until the situation is clarified beyond doubt, I am not in a position to say what will happen,” Deputy Penrose said.

Deputy Robert Troy said that from a “medical point of view” he had no issue with the use of marijuana or its derivatives.

“I do have anecdotal evidence of people who have used it medicinally and it has worked on some but hasn’t worked for others. For those in excruciating pain and if that brings some element of comfort that can only be a positive.

“In terms of personal use, I’d have to see a greater detail in terms of the level of quantity people are talking about. The facts of the matter are many people use it in a social capacity.

“We have to be careful too, sometimes so called soft drugs can lead on to harder substances. Are we talking about then relaxing prohibition on crack cocaine and heroin? I don’t think so.

“It’s a balancing act. It’s about making sure that we get it right,” he said.