Ireland: the Greens call for the decriminalisation of cannabis and the creation of coffeeshops

The Irish Green Party on Monday to the decriminalization of cannabis, declaring that the current law has «turned decent people into criminals» and needs to change.

As part of the party's new anti-drug policy, the Greens are also calling for «coffee shops» to be set up in Ireland, allowing the consumption and sale of cannabis to over-18s under certain conditions.

The party also proposes that all criminal offences be removed for people over 18 who have been punished for possession of less than 5 grams of cannabis, and that cannabis-based medical treatments be authorized, as well as the self-cultivation of two plants per person.

«Our approach is inspired by damage reduction. The Dutch model, with regulated production, is safer than what we have today. Most of the objections like addiction, youth access, lack of data on its medical impact and so on are not handled at all by the current system,» said Oliver Moran, representing the Green Party.

«But, for me personally, what this policy represents is that it's part of the maturing movement that's happening in Ireland. The lifting of the veil on taboos and criminality that covered the reality we already knew was there and made honest people and sick people look like criminals. Men and women felt compelled to hide to do something as normal as taking medicine or drinking a glass of wine in the evening.»

The party leader, Eamon Ryan, also told the TheJournal.ie that the creation of coffeeshops in Ireland could encourage consumers to consume in a regulated environment. He added that people consumed cannabis anyway, whether it was legal or not, and that the current system was «feeding the gang culture».

«Portugal and other American states seem to be able to decriminalize it without massively increasing its consumption,» he said.

«I think Portugal's approach is reasonable. They approach it as a health problem rather than a criminal issue. It's much more beneficial for society.»