Legislation to decriminalise drugs in Ireland could come in ‘early 2019’

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Legislation to decriminalise drugs in Ireland could come in ‘early 2019’

4 December 2017

By Kitty Holland

Legislation to decriminalise drugs, including heroin, cocaine and cannabis, for personal use could be enacted in early 2019, Minister of State for the National Drugs Strategy Catherine Byrne has indicated.

On Thursday, she appointed a working group to look at “alternative approaches to the possession of drugs for personal use”. It will have its first meeting on December 11th.

The group, to be chaired by retired judge Garret Sheehan, is expected to produce its first recommendations by May. Consultations with stakeholders will follow, after which final recommendations will be made “be the end of next year or early 2019” she said. Legislation is likely to follow.

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Thumbnail: Flickr CC Victoria Pickering