Michael Clifford: Irish laws on drugs need to grow up

What is required is grown up thinking that is informed not by prejudices and attitudes prevalent over the last four or five decades, writes Michael Clifford

In 2001 Portugal decriminalised drugs like cannabis leading to a nearly 50% decrease in convictions and imprisonments for drug offences, including trafficking, between 2001 and 2015. The recent change in the Garda approach is a welcome start to adopting the same apprpoach in this country. Picture: PA Wire

Just before Christmas, drug policy in this state grew up a little. An Garda Síochána announced that it was changing its approach to people found to be in possession of cannabis for personal use.

As of December 14, this offence will attract an adult caution, which in lay person’s terms is a warning. The officer at the scene retains the discretion to act in this manner as opposed to issuing a charge, but the emphasis has definitely shifted to avoiding prosecution for a first offence.