The rest of the world is leaving Britain behind on drug reform

Warning message

The subscription service is currently unavailable. Please try again later.

Oddly - almost absurdly - Aodhan O’Riordain, the Irish justice minster, came to London yesterday to deliver an oration that amounts to a 'red letter day' for drugs reform in his country. His call for decriminalisation of the possession of small quantities of drugs stands in startling contrast to the illiberal ambivalence of mainstream political parties in the UK.

The Republic of Ireland and the UK operate within a similar political culture. Yet the Irish and the British debates on drugs reform have taken very different paths.

O'Riordain's announcement that drug users will be able to use medically supervised injection rooms as of next year, signals a move towards a more inclusive system. The minister discussed the new policies - which he said amount to a "radical cultural shift" in the approach to drug addiction - at the London School of Economics' IDEAS International Drug Policy Project workshop.

Other speakers...

Rate this article: 

This marijuana news is brought to you by 420 Intel. For the latest breaking cannabis industry news, subscribe to the 420 Intel newsletter. If you'd like to promote your product or service in this area after every article, contact us.