The Citizens' Assembly has voted in favour of recommendations which will impact those found in possession of drugs in Ireland.
The Assembly has voted for a health-led approach in this regard.
It is recommending that those found in possession are diverted to a health-led system, rather than the criminal justice system.
It will be up to the Oireachtas to work out the legal complexities around this and all other recommendations voted on by the Assembly.
The vote was conducted through a method similar to proportional representation where Assembly members were asked for preferred options.
The count on cannabis was "tight".
There was one vote between legalisation and regulation of cannabis versus a comprehensive health-led option.
38 people voted for legalisation and regulation. 39 voted for a comprehensive health-led approach to cannabis.
When it came to hallucinogens, such as magic mushrooms a health led approach was preferred.
A comprehensive health led approach was also the preference for those in possession of cocaine and all other drugs.
There have been 120 presentations to the assembly including from emergency services, An Garda Síochána, healthcare professionals and people working at community level.
It has also heard from individuals and family members about their day-to-day lived experiences.
The process involved almost 200 hours of discussion, and almost 800 submissions were received through an open public consultation process.
The assembly heard calls for radical change, calls to maintain current laws and requests for more funding for treatment services.
The options for the assembly are to remain with the status quo or move to a health-led approach - by removing the criminal aspect from situations where people are found in possession for personal use.
Describing it as the most comprehensive deliberation on drugs use in the history of the State, Assembly Chair Paul Reid has said members expect the Government to "take on" their recommendations.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One programme yesterday he described the Citizens’ Assembly as "a safe space" to test the public mood, but he acknowledged that decisions following recommendations were for the policy makers.
Mr Reid said the aim was to reduce harm, particularly in marginalised communities that have a wider set of social factors influencing drugs use.
In his opening address today Mr Reid said that the challenge for members was to decide what end of the spectrum they wished to make recommendations.
The assembly voted on terms of reference relating to legislation, policy and services.
The question for members was to go for evolution or revolution he said, or whether the status quo was the approach.
Mr Reid told those gathered that there were many "challenging calls" in the balloting process, but he assured them that they could remain confident that they're the most "well informed" on drugs use in Ireland.
The Chairperson suggested that they make recommendations that would have the best traction and impact in Government.
Concerns were raised from the floor regarding reporting of the assembly by the media - that the members' decisions were predetermined.
Mr Reid and the Secretariat told them to ignore commentary outside the room and to focus on the matter at hand.
He said he had not spoken to or discussed the assembly with any Government Minister or member of the Government throughout the process.
"I've never taken on a role where I'm a yes person for anyone, I want to ensure everyone of the integrity of the process," he said.
Assembly vote
Stage 2 of the ballot paper was designed to clarify if an overall majority was in favour of a single, universal approach to the possession of drugs for personal use or whether they preferred a hybrid model.
There were six options listed A to E which would see a single model relating to all drugs.
The hybrid option - option F - offered a different approach to different drugs.
It was explained to the assembly that option F could relate to a different approach to cannabis or plant-based drugs.
The hybrid option was voted on by a majority.
Asked what drugs they wanted considered separately as part of a hybrid approach; a "sufficient number" of members indicated that they wanted a specific ballot on cannabis.
They were also asked if they wished to specifically ballot on any other other drugs - they chose hallucinogens, cocaine and other illicit drugs.
The secretariat is used proportional representation to determine the preferences of the assembly regarding each drug category.
