Irish Parliamentary Committee Recommends Decriminalizing Personal Drug Possession

The Joint Committee on Drugs Use recommended the full decriminalization of drug possession for personal use in Ireland in a report published June 24. The committee proposes repealing Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to shift the state's response from criminal prosecution to a health-based model, drawing parallels to Portugal's 2001 policy. The proposal follows a 2024 Citizens Assembly on Drug Use and includes 161 broader suggestions addressing addiction, intergenerational trauma, and neurodiversity.

Committee Chair Gary Gannon and Deputy Chair Mary Fitzpatrick argued that criminalization has failed to reduce harm and has instead increased stigma. To manage public order, the committee suggested that local authorities implement by-laws to curb drug use in public spaces and introduce mobile consumption facilities. The Irish Coalition for Drug Reform expressed support for the transition toward healthcare and support systems.

Government officials reacted with caution to the findings. Taoiseach Micheál Martin stated that decriminalization does not guarantee a decrease in drug consumption. Minister for Drugs Jennifer Murnane O'Connor opposed the move, asserting that full decriminalization would effectively legalize possession. She maintained that the government's current intent is to divert users toward health services without amending the Misuse of Drugs Act.