An Oireachtas Committee Just Recommended Drugs Be Decriminalised For Personal Use
An Oireachtas Committee Just Recommended Drugs Be Decriminalised For Personal Use
Text: Izzy Copestake
If implemented, this would move Ireland towards a health led approach to drugs.
An Oireachtas committee (the Joint Committee on Drugs Use) has recommended that the Irish Government decriminalise the possession of all drugs for personal use. This morning, the committee published their 161 recommendations which, if implemented, would move Ireland towards a health led approach to drugs, rather than a criminal one.
This recommendation would impact Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, the section of the act which lists drug possession as a criminal offense.
If the recommendations were enacted, it’s important to note that drugs would remain illegal in Ireland. However, if a person was found in possession of illegal substances, in a small enough amount that it would be deemed for personal use, they would not receive a criminal sanction. They also recommended that the decriminalisation of possession of drugs for personal use should apply equally to all illegal drugs.
Of the 161 recommendations, there were also recommendations to introduce more family and community support, as well as to address intergenerational trauma related to drug use. The Committee also called for local authorities and members of An Garda Síochána to conduct harm-reduction training.
While the recommendations are unambiguous, the government has no plans to implement it yet. The Minister for Justice has stated that he believes that the country should be “very careful” about making any legal changes that might increase drug use.
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