David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a distinction between decriminalising and legalising. There is the impact on youngsters found with a small amount of cannabis. Some 80% of drug prosecutions are for possession offences, involving cannabis in many cases. This must be prosecuted and the young person then has a criminal record for the rest of his or her life, which can have other consequences later if he or she needs to travel abroad. Mr. O'Driscoll's ideas and thoughts on the distinction between criminalisation and legalisation would be useful. We all bow to the wisdom of the delegates.