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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Ireland: It could soon be LEGAL to possess cocaine and cannabis for personal use in Ireland Ruth Halkon , ROBERT HYNES The Mirror Monday 02 Nov 2015 Ireland could decriminalise the possession of cocaine and cannabis for personal use while offering heroin users supervised injection rooms. Irish drugs minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said the radical move is aimed at reducing the stigma around addiction and bringing about a "radical cultural shift" in the treatment of addicts. The politician made it clear that, although it would no longer be a crime to be an addict, it would remain illegal to sell, distribute or profit from illicit drugs. Announcing the proposal during a speech at the London School of Economics, he said: "Too often those with drug problems suffer from stigma, due to a lack of understanding or public education about the nature of addiction. "This stigma can be compounded for those who end up with a criminal record due to possession of drugs for their own use. "It is against this background that there is now an emerging debate in Ireland on whether an alternative approach to the possession of small quantities of illicit drugs for personal use should be considered." He added a parliamentary committee had visited Portugal to witness its strategy for drug use, which treats addiction as a health rather than a criminal issue, freeing up police to tackle drug dealing and trafficking. The Justice, Defence and Equality committee was now assessing whether a similar policy, including the decriminalisation of possessing small amounts of drugs, would be viable in Ireland. According to the Irish Mirror, Mr Ó Ríordáin said he planned to use the rest of his time in office, before elections expected next year, to open the first injection rooms. The facilities will be aimed at tackling the number of people injecting drugs in the streets of Dublin. He said: "These drug users are at increased risk of overdose and blood borne disease infections, and the general public is at risk owing to unsafe disposal of syringes and other drug paraphernalia. "A recent report from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction found that supervised drug consumption facilities can be an effective intervention in harm reduction and a means to encourage drug users to enter treatment. "These facilities have been shown to be effective in engaging difficult-to-reach populations of drug users." http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/could-soon-legal-possess-cocaine-6752998
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