Cannabis bill 'a stepping stone to debate about legalisation’
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The Dublin Mid-West TD is bringing forward a piece of legislation that would allow a person to possess up to 7g of cannabis herb, or 2.5g of cannabis resin.
It comes just days after the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use recommended that the personal possession of drugs be decriminalised, with a special Oireachtas committee now set to examine the report.
Mr Kenny described the Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation) Bill 2022 as a “stress test” for the Government on whether it is serious about decriminalisation.
“Decriminalisation is just one recommendation of the Citizens’ Assembly but, to me, it’s one of the most crucial recommendations from the assembly,” Mr Kenny said. “I think it will be almost impossible for them [the Government] to oppose. It would look absolutely ridiculous.”
The People Before Profit TD said that, in recent years, public opinion on drug policy has shifted and this is reflected in the recommendations made by the Citizens’ Assembly, with more and more people being in favour of legalisation and regulation.
“The mood music and public opinion have shifted dramatically in the last number of years in relation to this issue,” he said.
“I think most people would go even further than what we’re saying, I think the majority of people would support the regulation of cannabis.
“We’ve always said this is a precursor to regulation.
“It’s a moderate bill and we think it’s a stepping stone towards a more regulated system.”
Several opposition parties including Labour have indicated that they will support Mr Kenny’s bill, and the PBP TD says that Sinn Féin have indicated that they will not oppose the legislation.
However, he said that it is more important for how the Government decides to act on the bill. Mr Kenny said he would like to see the individual parties of the coalition be granted a free vote on the matter.
Mr Kenny added that, into the future, he would like to see measures such as home cultivation and the establishment of cannabis clubs made legal.
“The second is that if they want to use cannabis, they don’t have to go to the black market, there’s a regulated system.”
Mr Kenny added that he believes regulation of cannabis is “inevitable” and is being progressed in other EU countries.
The bill, first introduced in the Dáil in late 2022, will be debated on Wednesday.