An Open Letter to the Government & the Citizens'

Assembly on Drugs

The quote above highlights the importance of why we, UCD SSDP & other chapters of Students for
Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), have decided to launch our ‘Students for Legalisation’ campaign. We
respect the autonomy of any Person Who Uses Drugs (PWUD), and understand that some use drugs to
deal with and manage their pain, such as cancer patients, some started to use based on their personal
circumstance, and some use drugs out of pure pleasure.

We do not condemn, nor condone the use of drugs. We do not separate Cannabis users or
Methamphetamine users - and we recognise the fact that all drugs can be purchased in the illegal
markets, and discrimination between ‘natural’ or ‘synthetic’ drugs only causes further harm and
stigmatisation.

This is why we have taken the approach of ‘total’ legalisation of all drugs. Continuous research and
articles produced by academics and professionals in the field of harm reduction and drug policy
reform shows that legalisation is the best approach to creating a safer environment for everyone.

Legalisation allows for a completely regulated market that has oversight by the Government and its
Departments. The benefits of this could be, but is not limited to:

● Reduced crime, corruption and funding of criminal organisations.

● Access to safe drugs that are not contaminated or laced with other substances such as
Fentanyl.
● Access to drugs with a labelled degree of strength/potency.
● Access to drugs for medical use.
● Access to better education and harm reduction services for all PWUD.
● Supporting local businesses, farmers and other establishments with a local production &
supply of drugs.
● Tax revenue that can be directed towards addiction services, education and harm reduction.

Additionally, legalisation takes into account the fact that the drugs available now are continuously
changing, and new substances such as ‘New Psychoactive Substances’ and others will be considered
in a dynamic legalised policy where all drugs are legal.
We worry that a decriminalisation approach would be too little, too late. While all of our friends in
other European countries will continue to benefit from progressing, evidence-based policies, we
would be in a country that has a narrow view and approach to the use of drugs.

While decriminalisation is a step in the right direction, taking into account the benefits of a legalised
approach presents it as a compromise. We worry that only Cannabis would be decriminalised, without
the implementation of country-wide, easy-access drug identification & testing centres or harm
reduction campaigns. That some politicians & TDs would use this as a ‘sign’ that they are
‘progressive’ for their own personal gain, all the while forgetting the people who are directly impacted
by the prohibition and war on drugs.

We ask that people consider an evidence-based, compassionate approach to the Citizens’ Assembly,
and keep science and PWUD at the core of all decisions being made.

Yours Sensibly,
Mani Beygi
UCD SSDP Chairperson

Ryan McHale Síofra O Mahony

DCU SSDP Chairperson UCD SSDP Committee

This open letter is supported by: