A group of doctors says young lives are being destroyed by cannabis use
A group of doctors say they're tired of seeing young lives derailed by cannabis use, and claim there's been little attempt by the government or HSE to counter pro-cannabis messaging.
It comes ahead of the Citizen's Assembly on Drugs Use, which will hold its first meeting next weekend.
In a letter published by the Irish Times - the group - which includes the head of Trinity College's school of medicine and two former IMO Presidents - say concerns raised about the health implications of cannabis use 'remain ignored'.
They say for people under 25, it's the most common substance generating demand for addiction services, and is a bigger issue than alcohol.
The letter cited hospital admission data for 2020, which indicated that over one thousand people were admitted to medical and psychiatric hospitals with a cannabis-related diagnoses.
The group of 21 doctors told the paper legalising cannabis use 'isn't the answer' to resolving these issues, and hopes renewed priority is given to prevention and treatment in the Citizen's Assembly on Drugs Use.

Pedestrian Dies After Collision On R445 Monasterevin Road Outside Kildare Town
Fine Gael TD Calls For Restricted Bin Collection Times To Ease Traffic Delays
Gardaí Continue Their Road Traffic Enforcement Operation Throughout The Christmas Period
New Quality Mark To Be Introduced To Crack Down On Bogus English Language Schools
Concerns Rise As Organ Transplant Operations Decline
Locals Are Being Advised To Make New Years Celebrations Stress-Free For Their Pets
Kfm Recruiting for Advertising Sales Dept.
Further Increase Expected In Number Of Landlords Leaving Property Market, As Price Of Three-Bed Semi Rises In Kildare