Oireachtas Justice Committee recommends legalising some drugs and decriminalising others

In what could prove to be a game-changer, the Oireachtas Justice Committee has recommended in a new report that the Government considers introducing "a regulatory model for certain drugs" – in other words, legalisation.

The Committee doesn't specify which drugs they want legalised – reading on, it seems pretty clear that cannabis is one, but there's been a recent groundswell internationally suggesting that the harms of MDMA/ecstasy have been over-stated and it too could be legally regulated. We've also seen psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, being legalised for personal consumption in Austria, the Bahamas, Brazil, Jamaica, Nepal, Holland, the US state of Maine and various other territories. In addition to its use as a recreational drug, psilocybin has been extensively trialled as an accompaniment to psychotherapy, as have MDMA and ketamine.

Setting out their stall, the Committee "acknowledges the harms associated with pursuing a criminal justice led approach to drug use and recommends that a health led approach is prioritised in both policy and practice."

"The Committee," the report continues, "recommends that a policy of decriminalisation is pursued, in line with emerging international best-practice, in respect of the possession of drugs for personal consumption, through appropriate legislation reform, in favour of a health-lead approach to problem drug use."

The reports goes on to recommend "the practice of cultivation of currently illicit substances at a modest, non-profit level to be considered."

It also calls for the "expansion of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme to ensure that more people affected by chronic illness can access cannabis in circumstances where other treatments have failed to relieve symptoms."

They're also urging "a rapid expansion of the drug testing pilot-scheme, first trailed in Ireland at Electric Picnic" and want to see "the proposed Citizen's Assembly on Drugs be held as soon as possible."

They want the planning difficulties faced by the pilot Merchant's Quay medically supervised injecting room to be resolved as a matter of urgency, and the fast-tracking of mobile injecting rooms.

It remains to be seen how the report is greeted in Government circles – we're expecting a new Minister for Drugs as part of Leo Varadkar's imminent cabinet reshuffle – but it suggests that a move towards a Portuguese-style model could be on the cards.

You can read the full report at https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/33/joint_committee_on_justice/reports/2022/2022-12-14_report-on-minorities-engaging-with-the-justice-system_en.pdf

Joint Committee on Justice chaired by Deputy @lawlessj has published its Report on Minorities engaging with the Justice System. Pictured at Launch with @AodhanORiordain, @SenLynnRuane & @Martin_Kenny
Full Report➡️https://t.co/q9Tu2hi58j
Press Release➡️https://t.co/zvZu2EYgX6 pic.twitter.com/YWDYlmp5v1

— Houses of the Oireachtas - Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) December 14, 2022

Here's some of the social media reaction to the report:

Well pleased. pic.twitter.com/cyt92YBEiZ

— Dr. Garrett McGovern 🇺🇦 (@AddictionsPMC) December 14, 2022

Justice committee report reccomendations

✅Supervised facilities
✅Mobile overdose prevention
✅ Decriminalsation
✅Further research for the right to grow & social clubs
✅ Investment in services
✅ Citizens assembly to be held ASAP.
https://t.co/fICFYg2YRd

— Natalie O'Regan (@NatalieORegan1) December 14, 2022

Very proud of the committees work on this. Evidence based and compassionate recommendations for better drug policy. https://t.co/XOCfgtvJaF

— Senator Lynn Ruane (@SenLynnRuane) December 14, 2022

A Dáil committee will call for Ireland’s 1st medically supervised injecting centre, planned for Dublin, to be opened as soon as possible, in a report to be published this morning. Plans for a pilot centre are with @anbordpleanala for a 2nd time.https://t.co/RQ1D0miQB6#TimeToAct pic.twitter.com/J2aMaoWe1O

— Tony Duffin (@tonyduffin) December 14, 2022

For example, take today's really positive Oireachtas Justice Committee report on drugs. Following good practice, recommendations have been made for harm-reduction measures such as supervised injection facilities and drug decriminalisation.
https://t.co/oDIlpFh0MK

— Cian (@peachycian) December 14, 2022

The Justice Committee is launching two reports today! Both of which I really welcome.

Specifically the recommendations of the Report on Current Sanctions for Personal Drug Possession will lay a lot of the groundwork for the upcoming Citizen Assembly on Drugs.

More details👇🧵 pic.twitter.com/lvfdK76tmv

— Patrick Costello TD (@Costellop) December 14, 2022