A group of doctors has warned that Ireland is sleepwalking into the legalisation of cannabis.

Dr Ray Walley, who joins us every Wednesday for The Last Word's weekly medical consultation, is one of the doctors involved with the Cannabis Risk Alliance.

He explains that cannabis has significant negative effects on health, citing recent studies which have linked its use to an increase in psychosis, suicide risk, cognitive impairment and hardening of the arteries, among other issues.

Dr Gareth McGovern is a GP specialising in addiction treatment at the Priory Medical Clinic in Dundrum.

He says that, if cannabis is as harmful as some doctors claim, "it's an advertisement to regulate this drug and get a handle on it."

"We need to make the distinction between decriminalisation and legalisation. There's absolutely no evidence that criminalising people stops them using cannabis."