Ireland: Legislative Committee Calls for Legalization of Cannabis and Decriminalization of Drugs

Ireland could be on the verge of a revolution in its drug policy. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use, a special legislative committee on drug policy, has issued a report with almost 60 recommendations that could change the country’s approach to cannabis and other drugs.

Key proposals include the legalization of cannabis on a limited scale and the decriminalization of all drugs for personal use. These changes would aim to shift the emphasis from punishment to public health and harm reduction.

The social and political background of the reform in Ireland

There has been a long-standing debate in Ireland about drug policy reform. In 2013, the first attempt to liberalize cannabis laws failed. Since then, public support for changing the law has grown significantly.

In 2024, the Citizens’ Assembly published a report that explicitly recommended the decriminalization of all drugs and the introduction of harm reduction programmes. In response to that report, a special committee was established – the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use – which has just published its recommendations.

Key recommendations from the commission

One of the most important elements of the commission’s report is the proposal to legalize cannabis on a limited scale, in particular through cannabis clubs. Gino Kenny, the chairman of the commission, explains that these clubs could operate on a non-profit basis, where members would grow and consume cannabis in a closed circle. Similar solutions exist in Spain and Malta.

The report also recommends decriminalizing all drugs for personal use, meaning that people who possess small amounts of drugs would not be punished but could receive health support. The commission emphasises that stigmatizing drug users does more harm than good, and penalizing them for personal use only deepens marginalization.

A New Approach to Drug Policy: Health Instead of Punishment

The commission’s report represents a clear shift in the approach to drugs, moving away from punishment to a health-based approach. The commission recommends that drug policy should focus on harm reduction rather than repression. The report highlights that criminalizing drug users is costly and ineffective, and that public funds could be better spent on health support programmes.

Gino Kenny points out that the current policy in Ireland is outdated and not delivering the desired results. “Punitively punishing drug users does not solve the problem, it only marginalizes them,” says Kenny. The report says that reducing stigma and providing adequate health resources are key to a more humane drug policy.

Cannabis in Ireland: What Will Change After Legalisation?

The committee is calling on the government to conduct research into a regulated cannabis market. This research would aim to understand how such a market could operate in Ireland, drawing on experiences from countries such as Spain, Malta and Germany. The committee suggests that Ireland could implement a not-for-profit model where cannabis would be grown and sold in closed club settings, with no commercial profits.

At the same time, the commission recommends expanding the medical cannabis program in Ireland so that more people with chronic conditions can access this treatment. The report says medical cannabis should be available to patients for whom other treatments have failed.

Protection against excessive drinking in public places

The report also addresses the issue of drug use in public places. The Commission recommends that local authorities and An Garda Síochána (the Irish police) be given appropriate support to tackle public drug use.

In particular, it recommends training services in harm reduction and working with drug users to minimise the risk of social tension and harm associated with inappropriate behavior.

Challenges on the road to reform

While the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use report makes many specific recommendations, Ireland faces many challenges. Despite growing public support, the Irish government has yet to commit to specific legal changes. Past attempts at reform have been repeatedly delayed, leading some experts to label the moves as “delaying tactics.”

Ryan McHale of the Irish drug policy reform organization Crainn noted that delaying reforms would further criminalize hundreds of people for personal possession of cannabis, which would only prolong their marginalization. “The current policy is harmful and needs to be changed immediately,” McHale added.

Conclusions

The report by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use is an important step towards a more humane and effective drug policy in Ireland.

Proposals to legalize cannabis and decriminalize drugs could revolutionise Irish law, removing the stigma of users and focusing on public health. It is now up to the Government to take action and implement the recommended reforms.

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(Featured image by Diogo Palhais via Unsplash)

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