Joint Committee on Drugs Use resumes discussion on decriminalisation, depenalisation, diversion and legalisation

The Joint Committee on Drugs Use will meet tomorrow, Thursday, 4 July, at 9.30 am to resume discussion on the decriminalisation, depenalisation and legalisation of drugs use.

The Committee will engage with the following international experts on drugs use policy and reform:

• Marie Nougier - Head of Research and Communications at the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC). IDPC is a global network of NGOs that promote drug policies grounded in social justice and human rights.
• Marta Pinto - Professor in Psychology of Justice at the University of Porto (FPCEUP) and Board member of the European Society for Social Drug Research (ESSD)
• Ricardo Baptista Leite M.D. - the President and Founder of UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
• Beatrix Vas - Drug Policy Coordinator UNITE
• Dr. Kasia Malinowska-Sempruch - Program Director of Drugs Policy Open Society Foundations

Ahead of the meetings in Committee Room 1 of Leinster House, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Michael McNamara said:

"The committee welcomes further discussion on the decriminalisation, depenalisation, diversion, and legalisation of drugs use from international experts.

"Today, 66 jurisdictions in 40 countries have adopted some form of decriminalisation. Should the Committee decide to endorse this approach in its reasoned response to the Citizens Assembly recommendations, there would be several models available to the Irish system to use as examples when dealing with decriminalisation and drugs use which the expert witnesses will highlight, including Portugal. The committee will be informed of the impact of a human rights and health led approach to drugs use on the harm caused by drugs use within society there.

"The committee welcomes engagement with all parties and regrets the cancellation of a meeting earlier this week, due to logistical difficulties, at which witnesses with concerns at the Citizens Assembly recommendations were due to speak. It is currently anticipated that these witnesses will be facilitated in addressing the committee after the summer."

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.