Drugs Ruling: Immediate action being taken to close drug loophole after ruling

Leo Varadkar, the health minister, has admitted it is currently legal to take ecstasy, crystal meth, magic mushrooms, and ketamine anywhere in Ireland — including the Dáil — but has insisted action is being taken to immediately address the issue.

Mr Varadkar confirmed the situation yesterday at a hastily-arranged press conference in response to a controversial Court of Appeal ruling to overturn bans on the products.

Under section 2(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act,1977, every government over the past 38 years has been able to ban substances it believes are “harmful to human health” as they could cause “death or disability”.