Liz McManus
Question:157 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to evidence in relation to the arguments in favour of legalising drug use; and his policy in relation to this matter.
Written Answers. - Legislation on Use of Drugs.
I presume the Deputy is referring to a recent press report which questioned the continuing legal prohibition on cannabis and other drugs and suggested that it was now time to consider their legalisation.
This is a very complex issue but I can assure the Deputy that the trend internationally is to continue to control such drugs. I recently attended a meeting of the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe which endorsed the view that deregulation was not the preferred approach. The move by the Dutch authorities is very much an experiment and cannot be taken in isolation from that country's liberal approach to the control of other drugs.
However, in recognition of the fact that not every person is prepared or able to withdraw totally from the use of drugs, the Eastern Health Board is providing a comprehensive methadone maintenance programme to assist abusers to lead as far as is possible, normal lives and to regularise their behaviour. Methadone is a heroin substitute and I would point out that this strategy is in line with the recommendations of the Government's HIV-AIDS and drug abuse prevention strategies.