DUBLIN — Brendan Kennedy wants his obituary to read: "I built companies that helped end the cannabis prohibition around the world."

He also predicts that recreational marijuana use will be "fully legal at the federal level in the United States within the next two years."

Kennedy, chief executive of a Silicon Valley-founded firm, Privateer Holdings, is competing to establish a national brand of pot. But his comments Wednesday on stage at Dublin's Web Summit come when there is little clarity that U.S. federal laws would allow such a potentially massive market and with little reliable data.

Next year's U.S. presidential election could further complicate a debate on the issue that has divided Congress, regulators and the American public.

Ireland will move towards legalising supervised heroin use, and possible future decriminalisation of other drugs, according to Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, the Irish minister who is redrafting Ireland’s national drugs strategy.

The minister announced that new laws to legalise injection of heroin under medical supervision could be in force next year. Further measures to decriminalise the recreational use of other drugs could be on the agenda after that.

“Our national strategy is due for renewal, and my job is to review it and make sure it’s relevant, and addresses the constantly changing drug landscape,” said Ó Ríordáin, speaking at a workshop on drug control at the London School of Economics this week.

Ireland has outlined plans to decriminalise the possession of small amounts of drugs, including heroin, cocaine and cannabis.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, the minister in charge of Ireland’s National Drugs Strategy, announced the radical move in the country’s approach to drug addiction in a speech on Monday.

“I am firmly of the view that there needs to be a cultural shift in how we regard substance misuse if we are to break this cycle and make a serious attempt to tackle drug and alcohol addiction,” said Mr Ó Ríordáin, adding that he wanted to remove the “stigma” from drug addiction by preventing addicts from ending up with criminal convictions.

Parts of Ireland are set to decriminalise the possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use, including heroin, cocaine and cannabis. 

The radical change in law has been announced by the Minister in charge of the National Drugs Strategy, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, who says that injecting drug users will be able to use a supervised injecting room in Dublin next year, followed by users in Cork, Galway and Limerick.

Irishtimes.com reports:

The extraordinary move is aimed at reducing the stigma around addiction and bringing about a "radical cultural shift" in the treatment of addicts

Ireland could decriminalise the possession of cocaine and cannabis for personal use while offering heroin users supervised injection rooms. 

Irish drugs minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said the radical move is aimed at reducing the stigma around addiction and bringing about a "radical cultural shift" in the treatment of addicts.

The first supervised injection rooms are set to be introduced in Dublin next year, before being rolled out in other parts of the country.

GardaÍ seized more than €1.1 million worth of drugs in two separate seizures in Dublin yesterday.

Four people are currently in custody.

The first seizure took place on the N2 in the Finglas area, where two cars were searched.

A total of €300,000 worth of cannabis was seized and two men, aged 40 and 49, were arrested at the scene.

They are being held at Finglas Garda Station.

Later that day in an unconnected operation, the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau raided a property in the Irishtown area of Dublin 2 at around 4pm.

The search yielded €880,000 worth of heroin, cocaine, and cannabis.

A man and a woman, both 29, were arrested.

Eight out of 10 families, directly affected by drug addiction favour decriminalisation of drug possession, a survey indicates.

Oireachtas committee on justice may recommend that Ireland follow the example of Portugal which 14 years ago decriminalised all drugs

Cannabis weed is “not really” seen as a drug among teenagers and has become “very acceptable”.

Secondary school pupils surveyed said a bag of weed would cost as little as €20, an ecstasy pill around €5, and a benzodiazepine (tranquilliser) tablet just €1.

Most of the 400 pupils surveyed did not believe alcohol advertisements influenced their choices and felt that drink sponsorship should be allowed to continue.

The research was carried out among 400 15- to 17-year-olds in nine schools in Dublin’s north inner city.