Clare Oireachtas Drugs Committee Chair Advocating Scrutiny Of Drugs Legalisation

The Clare-based Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use insists it's vital the long-term consequences of legalising drugs in other countries is examined before recommendations on the matter are made here. The committee, which was established to deal with the recommendations of the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use, has this week resumed its discussions on decriminalisation, depenalisation, diversion and legalisation of drugs use. Among the recommendations of the citizens assembly was decriminalising drugs use, in favour of a health-led approach, however it didn't go as far as suggesting legalising drugs use. There have been calls for this in some quarters though and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee, Scarriff Independent TD and MEP elect, Michael McNamara says there's suggestions that doing so hasn't had the desired effect in other countries.