A Donegal pro-cannabis group has welcomed a public consultation that could see a softening of the laws around possession of illegal drugs for personal use.
The Department of Health has just begun to seek the views of the public on the effectiveness of the current law and on what alternatives could be considered.
The exercise is being viewed as a forerunner to a possible relaxation of the laws governing substances like cannabis and launching the consultation, National Drug Strategy Minister Catherine Byrne said she was well aware of the impact a narcotics conviction can have on a young person’s life.
Ms Byrne said, “I am very conscious that a criminal conviction for drug possession can have a long term negative effect on a person’s ability to work and travel. It can stigmatise a young person and prevent them from achieving their potential into the future. I encourage anybody with an interest in this issue to participate in the consultation. I am especially anxious to hear the views of young people and families who may be impacted by the current legislation.”
A working group has been set up to examine the outcome of the public consultation and it will make recommendations to the Ministers for Health, Justice and Equality.
Candice Faulkner is founder of the Donegal Cannabis Social Club, an organisation campaigning for the legalisation of the drug for health purposes.
Founder of Donegal Cannabis Social Club, Candice Faulkner.
Welcoming the possible shake up in Ireland’s drug legislation, Ms Faulkner said it had been proven that prohibition did not work and that if handled properly, the State could even benefit from the legalisation of substances like cannabis.
She said, “Prohibition does not work. The war on drugs has been a massive failure and the Government needs to realise that. Cannabis will never go away, especially now when more people than ever are seeing the benefits of it.
“Cannabis has been used safely for thousands of years and the time, the money, the resources being used to try and get rid of it, it is a complete waste.
“Look at Colorado where cannabis has already been legalised. The Government is making millions there, money that is being spent on things like schools and rehab programmes. They are taking a sensible approach to it and the Government here needs to do the same because prohibition wrecks lives.”
Urging people to take part in the consultation exercise which runs until June 30, Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, added, “An effective criminal justice system is one which operates in the best interest of society as a whole. I am keen to explore measures which would prevent situations where people, particularly young people, could descend into a life of offending and re-offending. I welcome Minister Byrne’s initiative and I urge people to respond to this public consultation.”
The consultation can be accessed via an online questionnaire at health.gov.ie/consultations.
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