As the Deputy will be aware, cannabis and substances and products containing cannabis are currently classified as controlled drugs under Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 and 1984. Unlawful possession, sale, supply etc. of such substances are therefore offences under that legislation.
With regard to the size of the illegal drugs market and, in particular, the cannabis market, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that given the clandestine nature of such criminal activity any estimate of the size of the market would be speculative.
I have requested that the information sought concerning cannabis seizures be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy when available.
I can assure the Deputy that drug law enforcement remains a key priority area for our law enforcement agencies and the Government as part of the overall comprehensive approach in tackling the problem of drug misuse under the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016.
Furthermore, drugs and organised crime continue to be prioritised by An Garda Síochána through An Garda Síochána’s Policing Plan for 2013. In this regard, targeted intelligence-led operations such as Operation Nitrogen, which has a particular focus on the identification and dismantling of cannabis cultivation sites across all areas of the country, continue to yield significant results.