Irish Drug Policy and Reform

Abstract

This research project was conducted by Trinity FLAC in association with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. This report argues that Ireland should re-evaluate and reform its current drug policy, advocating for a general policy of decriminalisation by seeking to have the offence of possession removed from Irish legislation. The argument is advanced on two fronts, the first being that the current system of criminalisation is harmful to the public, both in terms of its costs and its ineffectiveness controlling drug abuse; and the second being that an administrative and health led response will more accurately address the issues at hand.