Harris and Martin at odds over cannabis decriminalisation

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil continue to be at odds over the decriminalisation of cannabis.

The two parties are engaged in ongoing government formation talks, after policy approaches to drug use emerged as a flashpoint during the election.

Fianna Fáil’s election manifesto called for the decriminalisation of cannabis.

On Thursday, party leader Micheál Martin stressed that decriminalisation is not the same as legalisation.

He told reporters he was “surprised” at negative reaction to the policy.

“A health-led response is something that we will promote and will be in the programme for government. That has been the trend for quite some time.”

He added: “It’s been a consensus within Dáil Éireann, various Oireachtas committees, all-party committees and members from different parties agreeing with this.

“Decriminalisation is not the same as legalisation is. I think it’s to give opportunities to young people to emerge from a phase of their life without a blot on their copybook that could restrict them later on in life.

“Having been a former minister for health, addiction is something that we need to deal with through a health lens, a health approach, as opposed to a criminal justice approach.

“That relates to alcohol, gambling and drug addiction. We’ve got to resource health better to deal with addiction more generally.”

Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris agreed that there needed to be a health-led approach to addiction, but cautioned against “creating a social acceptance” around drug use.

“I have a very strong view on this. As a health minister and briefly as a justice minister, I’ve always believed there should be a health-led approach to addiction.

“I think people who suffer from addiction should be supported in a compassionate, sympathetic and health-led approach.

“I think there’s a very big difference between a health-led approach and generally creating a social acceptance around the taking of drugs that can have very significant adverse health effects.

“We’ve worked so hard as a country to make progress on tobacco, to make progress on alcohol, I’d hate to see anything that brought about unintended consequences.

“So my views in relation to broader decriminalisation remain the same, and I wouldn’t be in a position to support that.”