Judge says cannabis users are supporting 'gangland murderers'
It is an offence to cultivate, import, export, produce, supply and possess cannabis in Ireland.
A judge in county Waterford issued a warning to members of the public who were before him on cannabis possession charges in court last week.
During the hearing of Dungarvan District Court, Judge John O’Leary made reference to the reported number of murders (18) linked to the Hutch-Kinahan feud, asking one person if they realised that they are supporting that as a result of their possession of cannabis.
He said to another that the proceeds from cannabis sales goes “up the line to gangland murderers.”
It is an offence to cultivate, import, export, produce, supply and possess cannabis in Ireland except in accordance with a Ministerial Licence.
A bill to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to enable adults over 18 to have possession of cannabis for personal use has been at the Committee Stage of Dáil approval since May 2025. The bill needs to pass through an additional seven stages and be signed into law by the President before it can be enacted.
There are currently four European countries that have legalised adult-use marijuana; Malta, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, and the continent's largest economy, Germany.
It is broadly decriminalised in Estonia, Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain.
