McDowell accepts cannabis cautions 'may make sense'

Justice Minister Michael McDowell has said it "may make sense" for the Gardaí not to pursue prosecutions for minor possession of cannabis.

Mr McDowell was speaking in Dublin after holding talks on the matter with Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy today.

The Director of Public Prosecutions is believed to be proposing a new scheme whereby people would be cautioned rather than prosecuted for possession of small amounts of cannabis.

Mr Mc Dowell said today that there would be no change in the law outlawing possession of the drug, but he accepted that it "may make sense" in many cases to issue cautions rather than pursue criminal convictions.