David Norris (Independent)

Senator Quinn has kindly allowed me to speak first but I will only do so for two or three minutes. I have a dinner guest and Senator Quinn courteously allowed me not to keep him waiting any longer.

I listened to the debate on the monitor in my office and I believe a certain amount of misinformation has been stated. We must honestly face the facts about drugs. I know a number of people who smoke cannabis regularly and it does not appear to do them the slightest bit of harm. It relaxes them, they do not become violent and they do not take any other type of drugs. They have done this for years. This nonsense about trying to link it to violence is simply that. It is not factual and we ought to face this. A small number of people may experience psychotic episodes or depression and this is the same as with any other substance.

The State must be careful about intervening in these areas. I have stated for a long time that when considered in the cold realistic light of day, what is driving the drugs epidemic is the enormous amounts of money available to criminals. By our actions we are feeding into this system. They way to kill it is to legalise, regulate, control and quality-control.