I want to speak about something I believe we are not taking seriously enough and that is the growing impact of cannabis addiction and cannabis-related psychosis, particularly among young people. As the Leader knows, I have been involved for many years in rehabilitation for people who have addictions. We have seen that there has been a perception that cannabis is harmless and that it is somehow different from other drugs and carries little risk. However, when we talk to addiction centres, such as Cuan Mhuire, Merchant's Quay Ireland, etc., and psychiatrists and youth workers, they tell a very different story. The reality is that more and more young people are presenting to services with issues linked to cannabis abuse, including psychosis. Young people are turning up at the centres and accident and emergency departments with psychosis and it is from cannabis.

Many years ago, there was a Minister called Pat Carey who was a very capable drugs Minister. He was from the Leader's own party. I remember we were talking about the people who were on the waiting lists. He said that cannabis is seen as harmless, but what is coming down the track is synthetic cannabis that will destroy people's minds. That was like a prophecy; it has come to pass. It is not about demonising young people or trying to criminalise young people. This is about being honest and seeing what cannabis can do. Often, people have the perception that they grow it in their back yard and it is harmless. I am telling them that the services are seeing people in their waiting lists who are in terrible trouble and their heads are being fried. Many of the young people who are arriving at the mental health services are not bad kids. They are vulnerable kids and young people who are struggling and, often, cannabis has become part of their everyday lives.

We need a mature, evidence-based conversation about the risks associated with cannabis use. We need to listen to the front-line people who are saying that there is an issue. We need to make sure that the resources are properly funded. If the people who are working on the ground are saying that there is a problem, then there is a problem. Ignoring it will not make it go away.