Cannabis and the law – latest plan will not work

Sir, – The Special Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use met for the first time this week to assess the findings of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use, which recommended decriminalisation of drug use.

When you look closer at the proposal, it begins to fall apart.

Under the scheme, those possessing small amounts of drugs will still be breaking the law and are liable to stop and search from gardaí.

The only that changes is that everybody found with any illegal drug is diverted to HSE addiction services in order to evade sanctions.

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The vast majority of those diverted will be cannabis users, as it is Ireland’s most widespread illicit drug. Most cannabis users are not suffering from addiction.

Already under-resourced and overburdened addiction services will become full of people who don’t need help, leaving those grappling a complex drug issue on an even longer waiting list.

This proposal lacks nuance, is too broad and will undoubtedly fail if it goes ahead in its current form. – Yours, etc,

RYAN McHALE,

Dublin 17.