Irish and overseas addiction doctors rebut Cannabis Risk Alliance letter & call for drug decriminalisation

The recent Cannabis Risk Alliance letter, which spoke of a "one-sided discussion about cannabis" and "Ireland being led down the path of cannabis legalisation" has been strongly rebutted by a group of eighteen addiction specialists from Ireland and overseas. Among them is the Dublin-based Dr. Garrett McGovern who also addresses the subject in the current issue of Hot Press.
In the open letter released today, they stress that, "Education is vital but we need to learn how to talk to young people about the effects of drugs and explore why they take drugs rather than continuing to preach the message of 'Just Say No'."
They go on to "urge the Government to decriminalise all drug possession for personal use and adopt a health-led, rather than criminal justice, approach to this problem."
It's a timely and important counterbalance to the new wave of Reefer Madness that has crept into the drugs debate in Ireland in recent weeks. Here's the text of the letter and signatories in full:

Dear Sir/Madam,

We feel obliged to respond to the letter published in the Irish Times (20th May) which was signed by 20 doctors. The letter attempts to
address a wide range of controversial issues, among them adolescent cannabis use, medicinal cannabis and legalisation and/or decriminalisation of cannabis for so called recreational use. We feel that some of the comments in this letter and other headlines in the media over the past few weeks have created a moral panic and we believe it is important that the harms associated with cannabis, and we recognise those harms, are put into some context.

Ireland has one of the highest drug related and alcohol related death rates in the EU none of which is contributed to by cannabis. It is
estimated that 90% of people who use the drug don’t seem to develop any # major problems with it (other than the fact that the drug they usually use it with (i.e. tobacco) is likely to cause them far greater harm and significantly contribute to their cause of death). As health advocates we take the issue of tobacco, alcohol and all drug related harm very seriously.

The central point of the letter appears to be that there is a lack of awareness particularly among young people of the potential harm of cannabis use. No evidence is presented to support this statement. In fact, a motion was passed last year at the Irish Medical Organisation AGM to urge the Government to review both the positive and negative effects of cannabis and we understand that a report is about to be published and the Government is planning to introduce new legislation.

The letter calls for a media campaign to highlight the dangers of Cannabis. Research internationally, over many decades, has shown that many youth education programmes are ineffective and may actually cause more harm than good. Education is vital but we need to learn how to talk to young people about the effects of drugs and explore why they take drugs rather to continue to preach the message of “Just say No”.

We appreciate that this is a contentious issue with opinions polarised regarding the best solution. The Government made a statement recently that they had no plans to legalise cannabis although countries such as Canada, parts of the U.S., Uruguay and Mexico have legalised cannabis as politicians, health and drug policy experts in those countries have decided that fighting a war on cannabis causes more harm than good. The outcomes so far in these countries do not show that cannabis use has increased significantly or that it is causing greater harm and the evaluations to date have been positive, both from a health perspective and financially.

It will ultimately be up to the Irish Government to decide whether or not to take this approach in the future but we believe it should explore all options to provide the public with a drug policy programme that is based on good empirical evidence and one that attempts to reduce drug related harm. It is worth making the point that the harms currently caused by cannabis are occurring in a paradigm of criminalisation and prohibition. Without doubt we need to take a different path and change drug policy for the better.

We believe the issue of medicinal cannabis should be dealt with separately to recreational cannabis use. The letter signed by these doctors made a number of claims that are not supported by international evidence. The reference to medicinal cannabis being a “Trojan Horse” to full legalisation implies that these doctors are sceptical about medicinal cannabis. There are many people who are benefitting from taking medicinal cannabis but sadly the vast majority are currently breaking the law in the process. This is inhumane and wrong.

The claim that cannabis is a “gateway” to harder drugs is again not supported by international research evidence. Addiction to, for example, heroin is complex and citing cannabis as a significant risk factor in its development misunderstands the intricate relationship between biological, psychological and social factors involved.

The letter of the 20th May mentions decriminalisation but media comments by some of the signatories of this letter show that they believe cannabis possession should continue to be criminalised. We strongly oppose this position.

Given the vast majority of people who use cannabis do not develop significant problems surely it makes no sense to criminalise those that do. Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Ireland and its use has increased significantly over the past few decades. Legal measures to curtail use have clearly not worked.

We urge the Government to decriminalise all drug possession for personal use and adopt a health led, rather than criminal justice, approach to this problem.

Dr Garrett McGovern, International Doctors for Healthy Drug Policies &
GP Specialising in Addiction Treatment, Dublin

Dr Cathal O Súillobháin, International Doctors for Healthy Drug Policies
& GP Specialising in Addiction Treatment, Dublin

Dr John Gilbert, GP Specialising in Addiction Treatment, Dublin

Dr John Horan, GP Specialising in Addiction Treatment, Cork

Dr Anjum Madani, GP Specialising in Addiction Treatment, Dublin

Dr Peter Cahill, GP Specialising in Addiction Treatment, Dublin

Dr James Leitch, GP Specialising in Addiction Treatment, Wicklow

Dr Pat Irwin, GP Specialising in Addiction Treatment, Dublin

Dr Aongus O Casaide, GP Specialising in Addiction Treatment, Dublin

Dr Cliodhna OCallaghan, GP, Limerick

Dr Chris Ford, International Doctors for Healthy Drug Policies, London,
UK

Dr Stephen Willott, International Doctors for Healthy Drug Policies,
Nottingham, UK

Dr Nicholas Swift, International Doctors for Healthy Drug Policies,
Wales, UK

Dr Alex Wodak, International Doctors for Healthy Drug Policies &
Emeritus Professor, Alcohol & Drug Services, Australia

Dr Keith Scott, International Doctors for Healthy Drug Policies & Drug
Law Reform Activist, Cape Town, South Africa

Dr Oscar D’Agnone, International Doctors for Healthy Drug Policies,
London UK

Dr David Caldicott, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Australia

Dr Vic Salas, International Doctors for Healthy Drug Policies and
Independent Consultant, Cambodia