Between 2019 and 2025, Ireland”s approach to drug policy underwent various reviews and recommendations, yet significant progress remained elusive. In 2019, the government”s Working Group on Drug Use submitted two contradictory reports after reviewing over 20,000 public submissions. The majority advocated for a health-centric model that emphasized adult cautions instead of charges and encouraged diversion to health services rather than to the judicial system. However, the group”s chair, Garrett Sheehan, disagreed with these findings, asserting that the research commissioned by the Department of Health deserved minimal consideration and cautioning against liberalization. Ultimately, the government chose a compromise that aligned closely with Sheehan”s stance. In practice, the adult caution system saw limited application by law enforcement, and the diversion program, which was announced enthusiastically, was never put into action.
In 2022, the Oireachtas Justice Committee released a report titled “An Examination of the Present Approach to Sanctions for Possession of Certain Amounts of Drugs for Personal Use,” which made bolder recommendations. It called for the decriminalization of possessing small quantities of drugs and urged the government to explore the regulation of natural substances, including cannabis and psilocybin.
The situation intensified during coalition negotiations in 2020 when the Green Party successfully pushed for a Citizens” Assembly on drug use. Although they aimed for cannabis reform, the process was hindered by the actions of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, who obstructed progress by placing conservatives in influential roles. The Assembly”s scope was significantly narrowed from addressing “illicit drug use” to just “problematic illicit drug use,” thereby excluding the experiences of many drug users. This alteration sparked outrage among addiction specialists and advocates who accused the government of manipulating the process.
Chaired by Paul Reid, a former chief of the Health Service Executive (HSE) who was perceived as sympathetic to the government, the Assembly commenced in April 2023 with a diverse group of 99 citizens, concluding in October. The Assembly received over 800 submissions, though many were deemed “out of scope” due to the restricted mandate. Participants examined four models: prohibition, depenalization, decriminalization, and legalization/regulation. However, confusion plagued the process, particularly regarding terminology. The “status quo” was misleadingly presented as the 2017-2025 strategy, which had notably failed to implement its proposed measures effectively. Furthermore, “decriminalization” was controversially redefined as a “comprehensive health-led approach,” obscuring important distinctions. Some assembly members voiced concerns over the clarity of the voting process, describing it as being “managed to a predetermined outcome.”
Assistant Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, who would later ascend to the role of Commissioner, cautioned that decriminalization could weaken Garda stop-and-search powers, a sentiment echoed in a 2014 Garda Inspectorate report that highlighted the misuse of such powers for general intelligence purposes. Critics labeled this as revealing an unspoken truth about the implications of changing drug policies.
Despite these challenges, the Assembly overwhelmingly dismissed the status quo and put forth 36 recommendations, including a transition to a health-led model, decriminalization of personal possession, and enhanced harm reduction, treatment, and educational initiatives. The proposal for cannabis legalization was narrowly defeated by a single vote. The Assembly”s clear rejection of ineffective caution and diversion schemes was soon muddied in media reporting, which reframed prohibition plus diversion as a “health-led approach.”
In June 2024, the Joint Committee on Drugs Use convened to review the Assembly”s recommendations. Paul Reid advocated for urgent reforms but mistakenly used the term “decriminalization” when discussing depenalization, a critical distinction as depenalization merely lessens penalties while maintaining prohibition. Many testimonies highlighted that criminal sanctions discourage individuals from seeking help. The Committee”s interim report supported both the Assembly”s findings and the Justice Committee”s earlier recommendations, suggesting the repeal of Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to facilitate genuine decriminalization.
The Committee”s work was interrupted by the general election, yet its interim report influenced the political discussion. The major parties diverged significantly: Fianna Fáil shifted erratically from advocating cannabis legalization to proposing full decriminalization, then restricting it to cannabis-only decriminalization. In contrast, Fine Gael rejected comprehensive reform, with Minister Simon Harris asserting that the public did not desire drug legalization, a claim that contradicted polling data and the Assembly”s conclusions. Fine Gael established decriminalization as a non-negotiable issue in government coalition talks, effectively stalling any potential reforms.
By 2025, the Department of Health enlisted Grant Thornton to evaluate the National Drugs Strategy. This review notably softened the language and diluted previous commitments, shifting from advocating for the representation of “people who use drugs” to “service users,” thereby marginalizing the majority of drug users. Earlier drafts had acknowledged the stigma associated with criminalization and policing, but the review replaced this with vague references to “low levels of trust.” Nevertheless, the underlying message remained clear: the imminent threat of criminal penalties continues to deter individuals from pursuing treatment.
From 2019 to 2025, Ireland experienced a myriad of discussions and initiatives, including a Working Group, a Justice Committee, a Citizens” Assembly, and yet another Oireachtas Committee, alongside an election that partially revolved around drug policy issues. Over six years, governmental inertia and obfuscation have led to a return to the unimplemented elements of the 2019 plan, leaving the situation largely unchanged and casting a shadow over the country”s commitment to meaningful reform.
