Bacik: Policy of criminalising cannabis use 'has failed'

Calls have been made for the decriminalisation of drugs as new figures reveal just 64 people have qualified for a medical cannabis programme.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik has criticised the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP), saying the list of qualifying conditions is limiting uptake.
"I have heard from some of those who do qualify that the programme is too complex and costly to access," she said.
Ireland is among 70 countries that now have medicinal cannabis programmes in place.
Spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS) was the most common condition cited by the doctors for treatment with medical cannabis, followed by pain in MS and epilepsy.
There have been 64 applications to date, all of which have been successful, under the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) since it came into effect in November 2021.
Four people qualified for medical cannabis in the first year of the scheme, with 28 applications approved in 2022 and 21 people approved in 2023.
However, the number who qualified under the programme dropped to eight last year, while three people have so far been approved this year. Ms Bacik said:
If the MCAP approvals are so low, and dipping further, there must be an examination of whether the scheme is working at all.
Calling on the decriminalisation of the drug user through repealing Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, she said: "From my previous work as a criminal barrister, I have seen the harm done to individuals who have been brought in front of the criminal justice system for possession of drugs in personal amounts.
"Many of those individuals were self-medicating or were using the drug to manage or cope with a health condition.
"Clearly, the policy of criminalising the drug has failed. It has wreaked havoc on those who suffer with addiction and on their families.
"The very worst harms of a criminalisation policy are experienced by people and communities who are already disadvantaged and marginalised."
She said a new reformed approach must operate in the context of strategies to combat poverty and marginalisation too, as well as to ensure timely access to mental and physical healthcare.
Ms Bacik also called on the Government to act on the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on drugs more broadly.
Read More
No timeline set for Ava's Protocol on medicinal cannabis in hospitals

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Irish Independent

a day ago

• Irish Independent

Assessment of Need waiting list backlog ‘completely unacceptable', autism charity chief says

Adam Harris criticised the fact that only 7pc of referrals have been seen within the legal time limit of six months. 'The reality is that it's taking far too long,' he said. 'The Government is talking about waiting lists for an AON as if it's a charity act or a nice thing to do. There are clear domestic obligations in place that are being breached here. 'Ireland was also the last country in the EU to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UNCRPD, which moves us away from the charity model. So it is also breaching that commitment.' Currently, there are over 15,000 children waiting for an AON, which is used to identify if a child has a disability and what services they need to access. The HSE expects the numbers on the waiting list to soar to nearly 25,000 by the end of the year as it grapples with chronic staff shortages in the disability sector. Mr Harris cited an 'urgent need' to get on top of the backlog, given the lack of key services for children with additional needs. The majority of parents have to fork out up to €1,000 to pay for a private assessment for their child, given the lengthy wait times. It needs to be done right across the education system He said Ireland has the right strategy and legislation, but is falling down in the area of implementation and investment. With regards to a mooted plan to move services like speech and language therapy (SLT) into the classroom setting, Mr Harris said he is 'very supportive' of that. ADVERTISEMENT 'Now that there has been a commitment to roll out a model in that regard, there is a real importance in how we do that. There is a clear benefit in not having to remove a child from a classroom and not being in a sterile setting,' he said. 'But where therapeutic supports are being delivered, it needs to be done right across the education system. 'So I don't just mean in special schools, but also mainstream schools or wherever is the most appropriate place for autistic kids to access them. We need to see a clear rollout on how that would happen and it should be done in a holistic sense.' Mr Harris was speaking as AsIAm and PTSB joined forces to launch the 2025 Autism Friendly Towns initiative. An idea first championed in Clonakilty in 2018, it has since been rolled out to 40 communities around Ireland with hopes of dozens more signing up to the initiative. 'Our ambition is that every community in Ireland would be an autism-friendly town,' Mr Harris said.

Irish Examiner

a day ago

• Irish Examiner

Cosmetic procedure legislation has been 'just sitting on somebody's desk' for eight years, medic says

Stalled legislation around regulating cosmetic procedures like botox and fillers is "just sitting on somebody's desk" for eight years with "no impetus to push it forward" until a death occurs, a leading medical practitioner has warned. A decision is expected from the Government shortly about recommencing drafting of legislation to regulate such cosmetic procedures. It comes amid concern at the lack of regulation in the area, amid high-profile cases in the UK about botox and other procedures in recent weeks. The Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill was approved by the then government in December 2017 and subsequently underwent pre-legislative scrutiny. It was then referred to the Office of the Attorney General for drafting. However, it has not progressed since then. Currently, botox is supposed to be only available through prescription, under the administration of qualified doctors and dentists. However, it is arriving into Ireland regularly, as seizures conducted by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) show. Last year, some 1,709 units of fake or illegal products claiming to contain botulinum toxin were seized, compared with just 26 in 2020. Unlike botox, dermal filler is not yet subjected to stringent regulations, meaning that people can be administered it in unsafe settings and environments. Botox survey This week's Irish Examiner Women's Health Report shows that a growing number of women – particularly those under 34 – feel positive towards cosmetic treatments and plastic surgery procedures including brow lifts, 'nose jobs', and breast augmentation. Just over a tenth (12%) of the 1,078 women interviewed for the IPSOS B&A survey conducted over a two-week period had undergone a procedure involving botox or fillers. Of those who had undergone botox or anti-wrinkle injections, 82% would consider doing it again. Almost half who underwent either of these two procedures admitted to having done them for a confidence boost. Similarly, 47% of those who had lip fillers or injections also said they done it for confidence. Just 50% said they had done the latter for anti-aging purposes – compared with 66% who said they had done botox or anti-wrinkle injections for anti-aging reasons. Dublin-based aesthetic medical practitioner Dr Eithne Brenner said regulation in Ireland is slow. 'I think it (legislation) has just been sitting on somebody's desk and there is no impetus to push it forward. Until we get something shocking like an Irish death, I don't think we are going to get enough change. We are behind in terms of legislation and we really need it.' A statement from the Department of Health said: 'A decision is now being sought from the Government to recommence drafting of the Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill. A memo for Government will be considered at Cabinet shortly.' Last week in the UK, 14 people from County Durham and Darlington experienced "adverse reactions" including eye drooping and double vision following "botulinum toxin" injections. Of those, 10 people had required treatment. Read More Register of approved practitioners offering botox and fillers to be established

Irish Examiner

a day ago

• Irish Examiner

Assisted dying set to become law in England and Wales after bill passed by MPs

Terminally ill people in England and Wales are to be given the right to an assisted death in a historic societal shift that will transform end-of-life care. After months of argument, MPs narrowly voted in favour of a private member's bill introduced by Labour's Kim Leadbeater, which could become law within four years. Her bill, which passed by 314 to 291 votes, a majority of 23, was hailed by campaigners as 'a day for the history books, where facts have prevailed over fear'. The emotional debate in parliament was dominated by pleas from opponents of the bill for stricter safeguards against coercion by abusers, concern from disabled people and warnings about the fundamental change in the power of the state when granted new rights over life and death. British prime minister Keir Starmer voted in favour of the bill, while MPs were given a free vote. It will head to the House of Lords and peers are not expected to block its progress, though opponents said they would continue to fight the bill there. Royal assent is widely expected by the end of the year. It will give people with less than six months to live in England and Wales the right to an assisted death after approval from two doctors and a panel including a psychiatrist, social worker and senior lawyer. — The Guardian Read More Tánaiste orders evacuation of Irish embassy staff in Iran