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Friday 9 June 2023 Dublin: 16°C

# decriminalisation

This year
2023
# Public Health
Drug decriminalisation policy 'could help with criminal and social issues', Irish report finds
Decriminalisation is the removal of criminal penalties for possession of drugs for personal use.
Voices
Opinion: Enough talk - we need to decriminalise the possession of drugs for personal use
Criminologist Dr Ian Marder proposes a paradigm shift away from criminalising drug use and towards a health-led approach.
# drugs policy
Citizens' Assembly on drugs expected to begin before summer
The Taoiseach said that a report by the Oireachtas Justice Committee would help set the terms of reference.
Last year
2022
# decriminalisation
Stigma around drug use preventing people from coming forward to access key supports
Tony Duffin, the CEO of the Ana Liffey Drug Project, said that there was a distinction between ‘drug use’ and ‘problematic drug use’
Voices
Gino Kenny: It's time to decriminalise the possession of cannabis for personal use
The People Before Profit TD says his bill will provide a stepping stone to a more progressive drugs policy in Ireland.
# Cannabis
Criminalising drug use is 'disastrous' waste of time and money, expert to tell Justice Committee
Dr Garrett McGovern believes Ireland should take a health-led approach to drugs and decriminalise personal use.
# Drugs
'It's made criminals out of decent people': People Before Profit to introduce Bill to legalise cannabis
Four years ago the Green Party favoured the establishment of Amsterdam-style cannabis coffee shops to Ireland.
# Gay Rights
'Lives were ruined': State moves closer to exonerating men convicted of homosexual 'offences'
Ireland could follow the UK’s lead and exonerate gay men later this year.
Ireland could follow the UK's lead and exonerate gay men later this year, Órla Ryan reports
A working group is set to submit a progress report to the Justice Minister this month and its final report later this year
Hundreds of gay men were convicted under laws later repealed when homosexuality was decriminalised in 1993
All time
# Your Say
Poll: Should the possession of drugs for personal use be decriminalised?
Many groups have long called for drug use to be addressed as a social and health issue, rather than as a criminal justice issue.
# Buenos Aires
Argentina's lower house backs landmark bill to legalise abortion
The legislation faces an uphill battle in the Senate, which rejected a similar bill two years ago.
Voices
Opinion: It's time to get real about heroin addiction. It's time to decriminalise this drug
Dr Austin O’Carroll says decriminalisation would be a way of taking responsibility for the vicious effects of inequality.
# decriminalisation
Q&A: Here's where Ireland's political parties stand on drugs ahead of GE2020
We’ve asked the parties their stance on topics such as decriminalisation and how they would tackle drug-related crime.
Voices
Lynn Ruane: Harm reduction should always come first with criminal drug policy
We should decriminalise possession of drugs for personal use, writes independent senator Lynn Ruane.
# decriminalisation
FactCheck: Does cannabis legalisation cause 'exponential' increases in the use of the drug?
The claim was made earlier this week by GP Dr Ray Walley in debate on cannabis legalisation.
# decriminalisation
Drug addiction in Ireland still a 'dirty secret', GAA star Philly McMahon says
McMahon lost his brother John to a drug overdose in 2012.
# Practical Solutions
Intent 'should be key concern under drug decriminalisation laws'
Reasonable threshold limits and supportive sanctions should form part of a decriminalisation process, a new study argues.
# Opinion
OPINION: Since the start of the century, Portugal has shown that decriminalisation of drug use is possible
Dr Nuno Capaz of the Lisbon Drug Addiction Dissuasion Commission gives his view on the drug policy debate.
# Drug Prevalence
Cannabis remains most commonly used illegal drug in Ireland
Levels of drug use in Ireland have increased in recent years.
# Your Say
Poll: Should drugs be decriminalised for personal use?
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin thinks the move would save lives.
# decriminalisation
Government to apologise for historical convictions of gay men
A motion before the Dáil this evening will acknowledge the harm caused by historical criminal laws.
# top garda
Ex-Assistant Commissioner on drug debate: 'Our young people are criminalised, deprived of life chances'
After 40 years in the force, Jack Nolan said it would be difficult to claim there are less drugs available now.
# Anniversary
Taoiseach planning measures to 'recognise the wrongs' done to those criminalised for homosexuality
Ireland officially passed legislation which finally decriminalised homosexuality on 24 June 1993.
# decriminalisation
Should Ireland get rid of criminal penalties for drug possession? It has been successful elsewhere
A town hall meeting will be held this week in Dublin on the subject of looking into a health-led approach towards drug use in Ireland.
# decriminalisation
Green Party wants to bring Amsterdam-style cannabis coffee shops to Ireland
The party is proposing that criminal offences be removed for people possessing less than five grams of cannabis.
# Your Say
Poll: Should illegal drugs be decriminalised for personal use?
A new working group has been formed to look into alternative approaches to the possession of drugs for personal use.
# chaotic life
'It takes me away from this world for the day': Life as a homeless drug-user on the streets of Dublin
What’s the day-to-day experience like for people injecting drugs in the city?
# illicit drugs
Irish Pharmacy Union calls for decriminalisation of drugs for personal use
The idea of decriminalising drugs – once considered taboo – has been gaining support in recent years.
Voices
Opinion: 'Ireland could lead the way in developing new human-centred approaches to drug use'
I am delighted to see this government’s commitment to properly evaluate how decriminalisation could work in an Irish context, writes Dr John Collins.
# Moving Forward
Cannabis users to be fined as Israel approves partial decriminalisation of drug
First time users will now be hit with a €255 fine instead of a conviction.
# obama clementia
Obama makes history by pardoning the sentences of 214 prisoners
US president has now commuted 562 sentences, more than the previous nine presidents combined.
# decriminalisation
The 'War On Drugs' is driving a global epidemic of HIV, TB and hepatitis
Major new study says jails hothouse infectious diseases, which are then passed on to the wider community.
# Drugs
Those big plans for injection centres and decriminalisation could now be reversed
The warning has come from the outgoing Drugs Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.
# Drug use
Where do Ireland's political parties stand on decriminalising cannabis?
Could Ireland go down the Portuguese route?
# portuguese model
Most men think decriminalising drugs is a good idea - but women aren't so sure
The government is considering decriminalising the possession of a small amount of drugs like heroin, cannabis and cocaine.
# portuguese model
Our drugs minister has backed decriminalisation in a major London speech
The minister cited Portugal’s approach to drugs as a possible model for Ireland.
# Policy Change
The co-founder of Bebo wants to decriminalise drugs in Ireland
Help Not Harm wants Ireland to treat the issue of drugs as a health issue.
# Sex Workers
'Prostitution should be legal because men want more sex than women'
An expert has proposed the controversial idea.
Voices
Debating prostitution? Why not listen to sex workers for once?
In the debate over criminalisation, sex workers’ voices are all too often drowned out.
# portugal here we come
What can Ireland learn from a country that decriminalised drugs?
TDs are off to Portugal to find out.
# Drug Problems
Drug addicts sell 10,000 copies of Denmark's Illegal! magazine
Being a magazine vendor is, according to the owners, the “best alternative to (giving fellatio) on the street”.