The Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald says the effects of a new strain of cannabis are still unknown.

She was responding to a Déil question from Deputy Finian McGrath who asked if she is aware of a new variant of the drug which is said to make people more violent.

Minister Fitzgerald said there has been an emergence of new synthetic cannabinoid substances, both here and abroad, which present key challenges for international and national control mechanisms.

She also said a new Bill is currently being prepared to strengthen the Misuse of Drugs Act, to clarify the provisions under which Ministerial orders and regulations are made, and which will facilitate the further controlling of new psychoactive substances when deemed necessary.

The Minister of State for the National Drugs Strategy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin is considering decriminalising heroin, cocaine and cannabis. In other words, possessing small amounts for personal use will no longer be an offence.

Recently the Justice, Defence and Equality committee heard evidence from various stakeholders on this issue. A number of groups working in the frontline gave evidence. Most were in favour of the measure and Portugal was held up as the model we should aspire to.

Two psychiatrist colleagues working at the coal face of the drug problem are Dr. Eamonn Keenan and Dr. Gerry McCarney, and they gave important evidence to the Committee as representative of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association.

he recent report from the Oireachtas Justice Committee on the proposed decriminalisation of certain drug use is timely and important (“Minor drug use ‘should not be criminalised’”, November 5th).

Marijuana may contain a chemical that can help fight cigarette addiction, according to new research out of Britain.

Researchers at the University College London found that a non-psychoactive chemical in marijuana, cannabidiol (CBD), given via inhaler could significantly reduce the number of cigarettes consumed by smokers that wanted to quit.

Celia Morgan, Ph.D, who co-authored the study, explained that CBD may help in a number of ways. One way could be how it affects memories, or cues, that underlie the desire to smoke.

THIS WEEK STEPHEN Whiteley has been in court.

After a hearing on Thursday in Castlebar, Co Mayo, he was made to pay a fine of €250 for the possession of cannabis, and another €500 fine for the cultivation.

“I can’t complain too much, because she could have done me for a lot worse,” Whiteley said, “I don’t think [the judge] had much leeway to do much other than what she did.”

This happens everyday in courts around the country.

What makes it different is Whiteley’s condition.

“In 2009 I bent down to get into a car, and I was hit by the most incredible pain. I locked up completely. Totally unable to move for 20 minutes,” he told TheJournal.ie. 

A cannabis grinder mistaken for a revolver hidden above a door sparked a massive security lockdown at Ireland's largest prison.

Scotland must start the debate on decriminalising drugs, say MSPs, government advisers and campaigners

SCOTLAND must start the debate on decriminalising drugs, campaigners, MSPs and former government advisers have said.

The call follows an announcement by the Irish government that it plans a “radical culture shift” which will see possession of drugs decriminalised in ordered to focus on offering helping to addicts and users rather than punishing them with criminal convictions and prison.

As the call came, the Scottish Government also told the Sunday Herald that it was reaffirming its wish for Holyrood to take responsibility over drug laws, which are currently reserved to Westminster.

Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin & his colleagues want to adopt the Portugeuse "treat not punish" model

Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin promised Hot Press in May that he’d be pushing the drugs agenda as hard as possible and has duly delivered with the publication today of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality Report of the Committee on a Harm Reducing and Rehabilitative approach to possession of small amounts of illegal drugs.

The government is considering decriminalising the possession of a small amount of drugs like heroin, cannabis and cocaine.

NEARLY HALF OF people in Ireland are against the proposal to no longer make it a criminal offence for a person to possess a small amount of drugs for personal use, according to a new poll.

However, there is significantly stronger backing for the idea among men with 51% favouring the decriminalisation idea compared to 35% of women.

The findings of the Claire Byrne Live/Amárach Research poll show that 43% of all people favour decriminalisation, while 46% are against it. Eleven per cent said they don’t know.