No Amnesty from Arrest for using HSE Surrender Bin @ EP22
It has recently been reported that drug testing would take place at the upcoming Electric Picnic festival. We have learned post-press announcements the reality of this may have been somewhat exaggerated albeit progressive.
Will you be arrested for dropping your drugs into the HSE “drug drop-in surrender bins”? Maybe.
As reported by Maria Langan, an ICU nurse and trustee of The Loop, the expectation is to drop all drugs in your possession into the service bin.
Our advice is to use a quarter to a half pill when using the bin and only if you suspect contamination. A service like this in such circumstances may save you or your friends life and can be an effective harm reduction tool. The research gathered will have larger impacts on policy design in the long term. Which is a good thing.
On the other hand the drop-in bin is not intended to be used like in jurisdictions such as Portugal. Boom festival took place in July where attendees could get their drugs tested with total amnesty from arrest. It is a different case in Ireland which is not open to the idea of decriminalisation, yet.
Be safe in relation to the law with our Know Your Rights handbook:
