Joint Committee on Drugs Use to discuss decriminalisation, depenalisation and legalisation

The Joint Committee on Drugs Use will meet tomorrow, Thursday, 27 June, with Professor Alex Stevens of the University of Kent, Niamh Eastwood, Executive Director of Release - a charity that provides information on issues related to drug use and to drug laws, and Ruby Lawlor of the international organisation Youth Rise, to discuss the decriminalisation, depenalisation and legalisation of drugs use.

Ahead of the meeting at 9:30 am in Committee Room 1 of Leinster House, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Michael McNamara said:

"The committee welcomes discussion on the decriminalisation, depenalisation, diversion and legalisation of drugs use from international experts Professor Alex Stevens, Niamh Eastwood and Ruby Lawlor.

"The committee will hear research from these stakeholders on the international approaches to drug use and the options available to Ireland; including the decriminalisation of drug use.

The committee will also hear about practical and legal steps for dealing with drugs use including depenalisation (not enforcing punishments for low drugs' possession), diversion (non - punitive, health - focused interventions for such offences), decriminalisation (changing the law so that drugs' possession is no longer a criminal offence) and legalisation (changing the law so that it is legal to produce and sell drugs, as well as to possess them for personal use)."

"The committee welcomes this discussion with all parties and to highlight the options available, as recommended by the Citizens' Assembly."

The Joint Committee on Drugs Use has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

Watch the Committee proceedings live here or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.