Ireland Plans to Decriminalize Weed, Cocaine, and Heroin

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Ireland just had the sort of revelation you always wish the entire planet could simply have at once: a self-described "radical cultural shift" in the way both the government and its citizens treat drug use and addiction. Weed (not a drug), cocaine, and heroin are all set to be decriminalized in the country according to new plans from the National Drugs Strategy. "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," Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, the minister in charge of the NDS, tells the Irish Times.

Drug users will also be able to use "surprised injecting rooms" in Dublin by 2016, followed shortly after by Cork, Galway, and Limerick. According to Ó Ríordáin, a new Misuse of Drugs bill is being "drawn up" that will "unblock" the legislative hurdles in the way of the implementation of injection rooms. The decriminalization of the aforementioned substances is only set to include "small amounts" for "personal use," a measure expected to be officially announced this week.

BRB. Moving to Ireland.

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