Joe O'Reilly (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The associated health issues I outlined arise in the Netherlands where grave difficulties have arisen due to the legalisation of cannabis use.

I will finish on this point. I genuinely believe, first, that a serious body of evidence supports the connection between continuous cannabis use and mental health issues and, second, that there is a risk of it being a gateway drug. I believe we should not change the status quo until we get compelling evidence to the contrary. I would not have a difficulty with studies of the kind advocated by Deputy McNamara.

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