"Ó Ríordáin’s hopes for drug decriminalisation"

Ferris_Bueller · 03-11-2015 02:58PM #1

DRUGS MINISTER AODHÁN Ó Ríordáin has backed the decriminalisation of possession of small amounts of drugs in a major speech at the London School of Economics.
The Labour junior minister’s comments follow his announcement back in April that he was examining the possible decriminalisation of cannabis.

In August, a ‘think tank’ meeting of front-line agencies and health service workers convened by the Dublin TD found a wide consensus that drugs should be decriminalised across the board.

“I am in favour of a decriminalisation model, but it must be one that suits the Irish context and be evidence based,” Ó Ríordáin said in his speech today.

“I believe that this kind of approach will only work if it is accompanied by timely treatment and harm reduction services, backed up by wrap-around supports which foster recovery – such as housing, health and social care.
“Above all, the model must be person-centred and involve an integrated approach to treatment and rehabilitation based on a continuum of care with clearly defined referral pathways.”

The minister cited Portugal’s approach to drugs as a possible model for Ireland. The country decriminalised the use of all drugs for personal use in 2001 – deciding to treat possession and use of small quantities as a public health issue rather than a criminal one.

The Journal

Irish Times

This has been discussed a lot on here, but I couldn't find a recent thread on it. Aodhán Ó'Riordáin looks like he is going to decriminalise small amounts of drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin, although they will still remain illegal to sell. He also wants to see the introduction of injection rooms, where heroin users can do so in a safe environment in Irelands cities. He is hoping to bring in the changes as soon as early 2016, but I've read elsewhere that it would take a few years to implement such changes.

What are peoples thoughts on this now that it seems likely to happen?

Personally I think it's about time we try and change this countries attitudes towards drugs. It will free up a lot of the gardaí resources and will cut out so much wasted time in court for people who get caught with small amounts of harmless drugs. It's a tricky one to know exactly what is the best policy towards drugs, and this might not be the best policy, but it is definitely a move in the right direction IMO.

smash · 03-11-2015 03:02PM

Election? What election?

Corvo · 03-11-2015 03:04PM

Injection rooms?

Ah FFS...

seamus · 03-11-2015 03:09PM

It's been coming for the last ten years. After the hysteria about drugs through the 80s and 90s (which were primarily fuelled by US fears about communists and hippies in the 60s and 70s), we've realised that addiction isn't as simple as the "try it once and you're hooked" mantra that used to be spouted, that many drugs aren't the body-destroying, brain melting chemicals once thought, and that ultimately all attempts to suppress consumption by force have failed dismally at massive financial and social cost.

Cannabis will probably fall off the drug strategy map in the EU in the next 10/15 years, with police either completely ignoring it, or it being fully legalised across the union.

Decriminalisation is not the same as legalisation. It simply means that those caught in possession of small amounts may just have it confiscated and won't be subject to prosecution. To a certain extent that's already happening with softer drugs, but this would formalise the arrangement. Decriminalisation is pretty essential if you want to have injecting centres that people aren't afraid to use.

I do suspect this is Labour setting out their socialist liberal stall ahead of the next election, I can't see this bill going all the way through to law before then.

podgemonster · 03-11-2015 03:09PM

Corvo wrote: »

Injection rooms?

Ah FFS...

They will inject anyway, they are addicts. Its better that do it in a safe and private environment rather than at the back of a bus, the toilets of McDonald's or in front of tourists at the Molly Malone statue.

Alexis Sanchez · 03-11-2015 03:09PM

It has worked very well in Portugal, so I welcome it: http://mic.com/articles/110344/14-years-after-portugal-decriminalized-all-drugs-here-s-what-s-happening

MilesMorales1 · 03-11-2015 03:25PM

Jesus christ, Dublin is annoying enough for sort of craic already. You just know every single one of these rooms will bel city centre centric.

I mean I support it in principle, but it sounds like it'll be poorly implemented.

Fr_Dougal · 03-11-2015 03:26PM

They should up the price of heroin, stop people using it.

jobbridge4life · 03-11-2015 03:29PM

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

Jesus christ, Dublin is annoying enough for sort of craic already. You just know every single one of these rooms will bel city centre centric.

I mean I support it in principle, but it sounds like it'll be poorly implemented.

Those suffering from heroin addiction are already in the city centre. You do not need to travel far to spot needles/tin foil/burnt spoons etc. Getting these individuals off the street and into safe spaces where they can use clean needles is a truly a win win.

super_furry · 03-11-2015 03:34PM

Sounds like some positive moves are being made.

carzony · 03-11-2015 03:41PM

It's about time something is happening, It's a step in the right direction in regards to small amounts of drugs. The amount of people that smoke weed is huge I've seen it from college, work, friends ect..

Yakult · 03-11-2015 03:50PM

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

They should up the price of heroin, stop people using it.

Too bad they don't regulate it....

All this can only be good imo.

It works for other countries so why not here

jobbridge4life · 03-11-2015 03:51PM

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

They should up the price of heroin, stop people using it.

It kills them and that doesn't stop people why on earth would increasing the price have any deterrent effect?

AnonoBoy · 03-11-2015 04:00PM

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

They should up the price of heroin, stop people using it.

Yeah - why aren't the government putting the tax up on heroin?

Not a mention of it in their giveaway budget! They're too busy chasing the Junkie Vote so they are.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo · 03-11-2015 04:09PM

Weed/hash needs to be decriminalised today. Getting caught with some smoke when your 18 shouldn't mean a lifetime criminal record hanging over you. It's beyond wrong that this is the case currently.

There's also the issue that (I think) most of the weed sold in Ireland is grown in Ireland. Having weed be illegal isn't a deterrent, nor does it control consumption, it's just an utter waste of Garda resources.

To treat all drug use as a public health matter rather than a justice matter is the more humane and correct way forward. Having the attitude 'drugs are bad/go to jail' hasn't ever worked, and will never work.

CucaFace · 03-11-2015 04:09PM

They should go a step further and actually start selling the drugs to people and make some money off it. People will take drugs no matter if they are legal or not, and right now only the scum bag dealers are making huge profits from this. If the Govt actually decided to sell from say certain locations these drugs im sure they could sell at far cheaper prices then the drug dealers and so in time put an end to the drug dealers. Without profit, drug dealers have no objective in dealing.

At least when people are buying from regulated 'shops' they can also be offered help which most would take at some stage.

The current 'war' on drugs is lost and until you take away the main principle of the whole problem - which is really huge profits for the dealers then this problem will always exist. Remove the profit and this will remove the dealers.

At the very least the tax intake could go towards paying for all the social and medical costs the state is currently incurring from the drugs problem.

brevity · 03-11-2015 04:12PM

People will completely misunderstand what's trying to be done here and it will never get implemented.

The Pheasant2 · 03-11-2015 04:34PM

Happy to see we're making a step in the right direction at the very least.

I reckon it'll be a long time but we really should just legalise weed.
If you look at the success legalisation has had in the States, which would have a roughly similar culture to us I think it's a no brainier. Canada will also be fully legalising within the next year.

Colorado made more money this year through taxing weed than they made from alcohol!

At the moment weed in Ireland is a massive untapped revenue source for the government which is going directly into the hands of dealers and criminals. We have to waste valuable monies policing and jailing these guys.

Furthermore we need to look at the big picture - all the jobs that could be created on the retail and growing side; could be a huge boost to the agri sector.
I think we're mad not to get in early and be the first in Europe to fully legalise.

Realistically it's a question of when rather than if when you look at our transatlantic cousins. But as per usual we'll wait for the other big boys to make the choice for us...

Lukker- · 03-11-2015 04:36PM

This all seems a little too progressive.

I'm suspicious..

JustTheOne · 03-11-2015 04:38PM

I don't get it, its ok to have it but not to sell it?

Surely it been ok to have it, how else are you gonna get it, like it just creates a need for dealers still.

Thephantomsmask · 03-11-2015 04:40PM

Will there be a reefer-endum?

Walter Bishop · 03-11-2015 04:45PM

JustTheOne wrote: »

I don't get it, its ok to have it but not to sell it?

Surely it been ok to have it, how else are you gonna get it, like it just creates a need for dealers still.

It will mean that huge amounts of police resources don't have to be wasted prosecuting individuals for having small amounts of drugs for personal use.

jobbridge4life · 03-11-2015 04:48PM

Walter Bishop wrote: »

It will mean that huge amounts of police resources don't have to be wasted prosecuting individuals for having small amounts of drugs for personal use.

Decriminalisation is still a very poor alternative to legalisation for all involved.

Walter Bishop · 03-11-2015 04:50PM

jobbridge4life wrote: »

Decriminalisation is still a very poor alternative to legalisation for all involved.

Agree entirely, but if ever something had to be done in baby steps, this is it.

Lukker- · 03-11-2015 04:53PM

JustTheOne wrote: »

I don't get it, its ok to have it but not to sell it?

Surely it been ok to have it, how else are you gonna get it, like it just creates a need for dealers still.

People are going to get it regardless of if it's illegal or not, instead of punishing people for possession of small amounts they treat it as a mental health issue instead of a criminal one.

It was highly effective in Portugal, reducing active heroin users over 10 years and almost wiping out new cases of HIV.

seamus · 03-11-2015 04:53PM

jobbridge4life wrote: »

Decriminalisation is still a very poor alternative to legalisation for all involved.

It's the first step in reality. Remembering that the majority of politicians and voters are 50+ and therefore stuck in an older mindset, decriminalisation will prove that the world doesn't fall down and your children don't become junkies when you go soft on drugs.

This will open minds and pave the way for more progressive ideas, not just in relation to the control of drugs, but also the treatment of addiction.

Decriminalisation of homosexuality was a very poor alternative to same-sex marriage, but there was no way in hell the latter would going to happen in 1994.

JustTheOne · 03-11-2015 04:54PM

Walter Bishop wrote: »

It will mean that huge amounts of police resources don't have to be wasted prosecuting individuals for having small amounts of drugs for personal use.

So thats the only advantage?

Hardly will help the actual drug problem.

fizzypish · 03-11-2015 04:55PM

Thephantomsmask wrote: »

Will there be a reefer-endum?

God dammit. I smiled at that. Why brain, why!!!!!

seamus · 03-11-2015 04:59PM

JustTheOne wrote: »

So thats the only advantage?

Hardly will help the actual drug problem.

Actually, roundabout it can because some guy caught with a small amount at 18 doesn't end up with a criminal record for drugs offences. Criminalising people for small amounts has the tendancy to push them into a downward poverty spiral as their employability becomes massively limited.

The very thing that you're trying to "solve" by criminalising drugs (people destroying their lives), is actually made worse or even caused by the laws you enact.

It's also worth noting your glib, "that's the only advantage" remark ignores the massive cost to the Gardai in terms of time and money in dealing with minor possession issues.

Arresting and prosecuting people for small amounts of possession confers no benefit on society, but has a pretty large cost.

Therefore it makes sense to decriminalise.

jobbridge4life · 03-11-2015 05:02PM

seamus wrote: »

It's the first step in reality. Remembering that the majority of politicians and voters are 50+ and therefore stuck in an older mindset, decriminalisation will prove that the world doesn't fall down and your children don't become junkies when you go soft on drugs.

This will open minds and pave the way for more progressive ideas, not just in relation to the control of drugs, but also the treatment of addiction.

Decriminalisation of homosexuality was a very poor alternative to same-sex marriage, but there was no way in hell the latter would going to happen in 1994.

I agree that it is a positive step but as you illustrate only a very small on towards the proper solution.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 03-11-2015 05:02PM

Hopefully these shooting alleys can also become places where addicts can seek help for their terrible addiction. Remember using heroin should never become normalised or accepted in society.

"Ó Ríordáin’s hopes for drug decriminalisation"

Comments