The Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs has voted to decriminalise all drugs and take a health-led approach to drug policy.
The sixth and final Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs met this weekend to vote on their final policies to be recommended to Government.
When polled on the possession of drugs for personal use, the Assembly initially voted for a “hybrid model” that would allow for a combination of different approaches to possession for different drugs.
The Assembly then voted individually on possession of cannabis, hallucinogenics, cocaine and “all other drugs”.
It voted to decriminalise possession of each drug and use a ‘comprehensive health-led' approach.
This means the State would respond to drug use primarily as a public health issue rather than a criminal one.
#CADrugsUse has voted for a comprehensive health-led approach for all types of drugs. pic.twitter.com/5pYdiVdaLE
— The Citizens' Assembly (@CitizAssembly) October 21, 2023
Under a health-led approach, a Garda who found someone in possession of drugs would refer that person directly to a SOAR Brief Intervention designed to “assess, inform, dissuade and prevent people from developing problematic drug use”.
The Assembly also voted by a landslide of 81 out of 86 that the Government should prioritise the reduction of supply, sale, distribution of illicit drugs.
A further 83 people that a new iteration of the National Drugs Strategy should be published by June 2024.
Some 77 also voted that the Government should prioritise vulnerable and marginalised groups and disadvantaged communities.
#CADrugsUse voted that the next National Drugs Strategy should focus on service, technological innovation and international best practice. pic.twitter.com/WcJJ8cJ9pI
— The Citizens' Assembly (@CitizAssembly) October 22, 2023
Other key recommendations include greater responsibility and accountability for drugs policy at national level through the establishment of a dedicated Cabinet Committee on Drugs to be chaired by the Taoiseach, and increased funding for drugs treatment services alongside a greater focus on education about drugs use and prevention measures.
The agreed recommendations will now be compiled into a final report outlining the work of the Assembly over the six months since it first met in April 2023.
#CADrugsUse voted overwhelmingly for Government to undertake the challenge of drugs misuse as a policy priority. pic.twitter.com/MIEP6IByIZ
— The Citizens' Assembly (@CitizAssembly) October 22, 2023
Concluding the Assembly, Chair Paul Reid said the six meetings have been “the most comprehensive, wide-ranging, and representative discussion on all aspects of drugs use and drugs policy that has ever taken place in Ireland”.
“As the Assembly’s work developed it was clear there was a mood for change and this is represented in the recommendations that have been agreed, including significant changes to how we treat and deal with possession of drugs for personal use,” he said.
“Ultimately, it will be up to the Oireachtas to implement what the Assembly has called for, but if they do, this will not only change the national policy and approach, it will also change people’s lives.”
