Irish Citizen Assembly Recommends Decriminalizing Drugs

The Irish Citizen Assembly on drug consumption has recently released a report recommending the decriminalization of drug possession for personal use, marking a significant shift in Irish drug policy.

Led by Paul Reid, the Citizen Assembly’s report proposes a “decriminalized” model, advocating for a transition from a criminal justice approach to a comprehensive health-focused strategy.

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Irish Citizen Assembly’s Recommendation

Comprised of 99 randomly selected citizens, the Assembly has endorsed a “comprehensive health-focused approach” to drug possession. This approach involves providing individuals caught with drugs for personal use with “multiple opportunities” to voluntarily engage with healthcare services, aiming to minimize or eliminate the possibility of criminal conviction and imprisonment for simple drug possession.

Paul Reid emphasized that the Assembly is focused on the ultimate outcome, leaving the details of the complex legislative implementation of effective decriminalization to the Oireachtas, the Irish bicameral parliament. The report now awaits scrutiny by the Oireachtas and the government, prompting Paul Reid to urge policymakers to embrace the recommendations.

Taoiseach – the Irish Prime Minister – Leo Varadkar has shown openness to considering changes in the country’s drug legislation, stating, “I certainly think that shaming people, blaming them, and criminalizing them is not an effective policy.”

Mr. Varadkar has committed to carefully review any recommendation and stressed the need for political courage and leadership to oversee “effective decriminalization.”

Irish Challenges and Legislative Considerations

The path to drug decriminalization in Ireland is not without hurdles. Assembly members and legal experts already disagree on the definition and feasibility of decriminalization.

The international drug context does not make things easier either: a significant EU study on the heroin market recently cautioned against potential negative effects on public health and safety from the transition from opium to synthetic opioids following the decline in poppy production in Afghanistan. The risk is the influx of synthetic substances with much stronger and deadlier side effects than natural substances, exacerbated by the policy of prohibition.

The Irish government’s response further complicates matters. While the Assembly recommends a comprehensive health-focused approach, the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána oppose legal changes beyond the existing decriminalization program, which allows for a maximum of two referrals to healthcare services for drug possession.

The government’s delay in progressing a bill to legalize cannabis possession – up to 7 grams of cannabis and 2.5 grams of resin for adult personal use – adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate.

Delay in Cannabis “Legalization”

Despite the Assembly’s efforts to reform drug policy, the Irish government proposes to postpone the vote on the bill to legalize cannabis possession by nine months. Taoiseach Varadkar emphasized the need not to blindly adopt models from other countries and suggested a nuanced approach, considering the legal context of decriminalization under Irish law.

Critics, including Ryan McHale of the Irish drug policy reform organization Crainn, express their disappointment with this delay, highlighting the Citizen Assembly’s clear calls for change and strong public support for drug decriminalization. Deputy Paul Murphy believes that the government’s proposed delay is merely avoiding the issue and urges it to follow through on its rhetoric of a health-focused drug approach.

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(Featured image by Fabrício Severo via Unsplash)

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