CANNABIS users in Ireland yesterday called on the Government to follow the lead of the British Government and downgrade the criminal status of the drug.

ANTI-DRUGS campaigners have described as outrageous Government plans to consider supervised injection facilities for chronic heroin addicts.

IRELAND should learn from other European countries which are successfully tackling alcohol and other substance abuse, an expert told a conference yesterday.

IRELAND has the highest levels of ecstasy and amphetamine use in western Europe, according to a UN report.