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Ireland: State to examine possibility of decriminalising cannabis

Irish Times

Thursday 23 Apr 2015

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin’s new role as Minister of State for Drug Strategy confirmed

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin is to examine the possible decriminalisation of cannabis in his new role as Minister of State with Responsibility for the Drug Strategy.

The Labour TD’s new position was confirmed in the Dáil on Thursday by Tanaiste Joan Burton.

He said his first task will be to examine the National Drugs Strategy which expires next year.


State to examine possibility of decriminalising cannabis
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin’s new role as Minister of State for Drug Strategy confirmed
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin is to examine the possible decriminalisation of cannabis in his new role as Minister of State with Responsibility for the Drug Strategy. Photograph: David Sleator

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin is to examine the possible decriminalisation of cannabis in his new role as Minister of State with Responsibility for the Drug Strategy. Photograph: David Sleator

Sarah Bardon

Topics:
News
Politics
Aodhan O Riordain
Joan Burton Tanaiste
Labour
Gemeente Amsterdam

Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 16:59

First published:
Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 16:57

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin is to examine the possible decriminalisation of cannabis in his new role as Minister of State with Responsibility for the Drug Strategy.

The Labour TD’s new position was confirmed in the Dáil on Thursday by Tanaiste Joan Burton.

He said his first task will be to examine the National Drugs Strategy which expires next year.

Aodhán Ó’Ríordáin, a Dublin Bay North deputy, is already a junior Minister at the Department of Justice and at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. File photograph: Eric Luke/The Irish TimesAodhán Ó Ríordáin to be appointed Minister for Drugs
Fianna Fáil calls for appointment of Minister for Drugs

Mr Ó Ríordáin said he is willing to examine to the potential relaxation of the laws.

He said: “I believe someone who has an addiction issue should be dealt with through the health system and not the criminal justice system.

“I think people – guards, the prison service – will probably agree with me on that. We have an opportunity through the legislation that is forthcoming the Misuse of Drugs Act to investigate that.

“I am going to mark any hard calls on that but the difference between decriminalisation and legalisation is quite different.

“We need to have a proper discussion before we set up alarm bells in people’s heads.”

Mr Ó Ríordáin said he had tried drugs once in Amsterdam as a student but had not taken any illegal drugs.

He said: “I have seen the effects of drugs in my teaching life and in my community activism as it were as a public representative.

“When you see what drugs does, it has stolen generations and you see the effect it has on children.

“It passes on dysfunction and it passes on a huge amount of problems that children have for the rest of their lives.

“My own personal decision never to have taken illegal drugs was fuelled by my experiences in the classroom.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/state-to-examine-possibility-of-decriminalising-cannabis-1.2186652

 

 

 

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