MARIJUANA USE RIFE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN NORTH MONAGHAN, MEETING TOLD

PETER HUGHES

Concerns among North Monaghan parents about the widespread use of marijuana by young people were brought before Monday’s meeting of the Monaghan Municipal District by Sinn Féin local public representative Bronagh McAree. The meeting agreed to her proposal to write to Justice Minister Helen McEntee TD seeking the introduction of educational resources for schools on drug dangers – Councillor McAree felt young people should be informed about the issue, not criminalised. Commending the Gardaí on the efforts they were making to deal with drug issues locally, Councillor McAree referred to concerns over the use of marijuana in North Monaghan, claiming that its use by young teenagers had increased massively. Citing representations made to her by distressed parents, she said that marijuana for medical conditions administered in a controlled environment had great benefits – she was referring to the use of the drug for recreational purposes without controls. Councillor McAree referred to findings in a study by the College of Psychiatrists in Ireland which highlighted the harmful effects of marijuana and the increase in the number of hospital admissions. She said that this was not an area where they should criminalise young people – the….