Bacik: Policy of criminalising cannabis use 'has failed'
Calls have been made for the decriminalisation of drugs as new figures reveal just 64 people have qualified for a medical cannabis programme.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik has criticised the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP), saying the list of qualifying conditions is limiting uptake.
"I have heard from some of those who do qualify that the programme is too complex and costly to access," she said.
Ireland is among 70 countries that now have medicinal cannabis programmes in place.
Spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS) was the most common condition cited by the doctors for treatment with medical cannabis, followed by pain in MS and epilepsy.
There have been 64 applications to date, all of which have been successful, under the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) since it came into effect in November 2021.
Four people qualified for medical cannabis in the first year of the scheme, with 28 applications approved in 2022 and 21 people approved in 2023.
However, the number who qualified under the programme dropped to eight last year, while three people have so far been approved this year. Ms Bacik said:
If the MCAP approvals are so low, and dipping further, there must be an examination of whether the scheme is working at all.
Calling on the decriminalisation of the drug user through repealing Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, she said: "From my previous work as a criminal barrister, I have seen the harm done to individuals who have been brought in front of the criminal justice system for possession of drugs in personal amounts.
"Many of those individuals were self-medicating or were using the drug to manage or cope with a health condition.
"Clearly, the policy of criminalising the drug has failed. It has wreaked havoc on those who suffer with addiction and on their families.
"The very worst harms of a criminalisation policy are experienced by people and communities who are already disadvantaged and marginalised."
She said a new reformed approach must operate in the context of strategies to combat poverty and marginalisation too, as well as to ensure timely access to mental and physical healthcare.
Ms Bacik also called on the Government to act on the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on drugs more broadly.
Read More
No timeline set for Ava's Protocol on medicinal cannabis in hospitals
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Teens aged 16 and 17 in mental distress will have to attend an adult A&E instead of new children's hospital, committee hears
Dublin psychiatrist Prof Matthew Sadlier highlighted mental health law which defines a child as someone under eighteen. However, the cut-off point for children's hospitals is 16, which means those aged 16 and 17, who are in mental suffering, must go to an adult accident and emergency department where there is no child and adolescent mental health service, he added. 'If they need medical intervention they must go to an adult emergency department,' he added, calling for change. 'We are about to open a new national children's hospital and it is time for the ages to be aligned,' he said. He was speaking as the committee heard from psychiatrists, Mental Health Reform and the Mental Health Commission to give their views on the new Mental Health Bill 2024 which is aiming to update the law around the care and treatment of patients. Philip Watt, interim chief executive of Mental Health Reform and Stephen Sheil, interim communications and engagement manager said it saw the Bill as a "significant opportunity, a once-in-a-generation chance to modernise our mental health legislation and bring it into line with human rights standards, including Ireland's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities." However, they said that it needs to be strengthened in different areas and "we are concerned that the Bill does not yet prohibit the admission of children to adult psychiatric units, which has been widely acknowledged as inappropriate and harmful'. "We recommend that the legislation include a clear statutory prohibition, which would reinforce the obligation to invest in appropriate child and adolescent services." Five children were admitted to adult psychiatric hospitals last year. Prof Sadlier said he was aware of a case where a teenager has to stay in an adult emergency department for a week . He is not in favour of a total ban on admitting children to adult psychiatric units. ADVERTISEMENT A number of amendments have been put forward to the proposed legislation. Asked by Labour party spokeswoman on health deputy Marie Sherlock what the view of psychiatrists is to the amendments around the care of involuntary patients psychiatrist Prof Brendan Kelly said they led to some improvements. However, he still had concerns about the criteria for involuntary admission which states that admission is 'immediately necessary for the protection of life of the person or that of another person or necessary for protection from an immediate and serious threat to the health of the person or that of other persons'. The use of risk as an admission criteria asks mental health care professionals to do something that lacks a firm evidence-base, and this risk criteria should be removed, he added. Assistant Garda Commissioner Paula Hilman told the committee of a pilot Community Access Support Team (CAST) project in Limerick. "This initiative is currently being trialled in partnership with the HSE in the Limerick Garda Division. The pilot started in January 2025 under 'A Policing Service for the Future' and is aimed at assisting people who are experiencing situational trauma or a mental health crisis." Its central goal is to reduce future presentations and interactions with Gardaí or other blue light emergency services, through community follow-ups and the case management of complex cases, she said. CAST has yet to be evaluated not only in terms of impact on individuals, but also on the amount of Garda time is being devoted to an area that is not a core function. "However, it is important to note that since its introduction, CAST has created greater integration among statutory and voluntary agencies operating in the Limerick Garda Division. It is grounded in international evidence."
Sunday World
7 hours ago
- Sunday World
Government has ‘systematically smashed' disability laws for children, teen tells Oireachtas
Cara Darmody, 14, addressed the Oireachtas Disability Committee on Wednesday about the backlog in the assessment of need (AON) system. Campaigner Cara Darmody staged a 50-hour protest against the backlog in the assessment of needs system (Liam McBurney/PA) The Government has "systematically smashed" disability laws on important checks for children, a teenage campaigner has told the Oireachtas. Cara Darmody, 14, addressed the Oireachtas Disability Committee on Wednesday about the backlog in the assessment of need (AON) system. An AON is carried out to identify if a child, children or young person has a disability, and is designed to identify their health needs as well as service requirements. Once the HSE receives an application, there is a legal requirement for the AON to be completed within six months. On the possibility of changes to the laws being in train, Cara said she would "vigorously resist any negative change" to the six-month timeframe, saying she believed it would cause "further permanent damage to children". The total number of applications overdue for completion at the end of March 2025 stood at 15,296, an 8% rise on the end of 2024. Throughout the first quarter of this year, just 7% of assessments were completed within the timeframes set out in the Disability Act 2005 and accompanying regulations. The HSE said that demand for AONs continues to outstrip system capacity, despite increases in activity and commissions from private assessors. The health service anticipates that by the end of the year there could be as many as 24,796 AONs due for completion. Opposition parties including Sinn Féin, Labour, Social Democrats, People Before Profit-Solidarity, Independent Ireland and Aontu have supported Cara's campaign. Last month she staged a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House. She was initially motivated to pursue her advocacy because her two brothers have autism and severe/profound intellectual disabilities. Speaking at Committee, Cara said: "My own story is very simple, I have two brothers Neil, 12, and John, eight, who are autistic and severely and profoundly intellectually disabled. "They were both failed dramatically by the state in relation to assessments and services, and Neil remains in an inappropriate school place. "Our story is the story of so many thousands of other families. I cannot do anything to change the permanent damage caused to Neil and John, but I can advocate to stop damage being done to autistic children in the future." She said Taoiseach Micheal Martin and the wider Government are breaking the law over the delivery of AONs. Campaigner Cara Darmody staged a 50-hour protest against the backlog in the assessment of needs system (Liam McBurney/PA) News in 90 Seconds - June 11th "Three different taoisigh have made promises to me to fix this issue, and all have dramatically failed." She added: "Let me explain how they're breaking the law. The Disability Act of 2005, an Act created by this House, states that an assessment of need must be carried out within six months, full-stop. "That six-month timeframe is there because every single person knows that early intervention is the key. "It's also generally accepted that when early intervention doesn't occur, that damage is caused to children with disabilities. It's a no-brainer." Cara said she was shocked that Mr Martin would not declare a national emergency over the matter. She said the Taoiseach should also set up a taskforce to address the matter, and increase financing for "Cara's Fund".
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Take immediate action' demand issued to Govt after ‘shocking' nursing home exposé amid calls for regulation overhaul
THE Government has been urged to urgently overhaul regulation of private nursing homes following a shocking exposé . An 2 The leader slammed 'systematic' ageism Credit: Getty Images 2 She blasted Michael Martin in calls for immediate action Credit: 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved Both are run by Ireland's top private nursing home provider Emeis Ireland, who have apologised for the failings. Hiqa chiefs have now launched a sweeping review of all nursing homes operated by Emeis Ireland, who run 27 facilities across the country. But as the Speaking during Leaders' Questions, Bacik called for the establishment of a statutory adult safeguarding framework and a root-and-branch review of Hiqa's inspection practices. READ MORE IN NEWS And the Labour supremo insisted there must be 'accountability' for 'profit-driven neglect of older people'. She said: 'The scenes revealed on RTE last Thursday were shocking – but for many, sadly, not surprising. "We saw vulnerable older people in private nursing homes being manhandled, neglected and humiliated. They were calling out for help and being ignored. "Staff were using incontinence pads as makeshift sheets because of equipment shortages. This is nothing short of systemic abuse. Most read in Irish News 'Twenty years on from Leas Cross, the public is once again reeling. But despite expressions of sympathy and tributes to RTE Investigates, the Taoiseach's response today fell far short. 'NO TIMELINE' "There was no timeline for change, no real accountability, and no mention of the voices that are still missing – the residents themselves. 'Absent from this debate are the people living in these institutions – out of sight and too often out of mind. If we are honest, systemic ageism has allowed a substandard care system to grow across our country. "And it is deeply disturbing that so many families feel petrified about the thought of ageing or moving into a nursing home. I've heard from people whose loved ones were injured or denied basic medication. "They tried to advocate, but were met with silence from Hiqa, the Ombudsman, or the HSA. This is utterly unacceptable." 'BEYOND BELIEF' The Labour leader continued: 'Hiqa, which was established after Leas Cross to prevent further abuse, is not fulfilling its duties. Reports are relied on by families – but in too many cases, they are misleading and dangerous. "It is beyond belief that Hiqa has been asked to lead the review of nursing home standards, despite its failure to spot the very abuses RTE exposed. "The public deserves better. Older people deserve better. 'I'm calling on Government to stop paying lip service and take immediate action to protect older people. We need a safeguarding framework – as recommended by the Law Reform Commission last year. We need robust, independent oversight. "And above all, we need to end the systemic ageism that has enabled the horrors we witnessed on RTE. Government must act now.'
