Almost three out of four people surveyed in a national study on the prevalence of cannabis use say the drug should be legalised for medical purposes.
However, while 72 per cent agreed with its use in medicine, a little more than one in five (21 per cent) said it should be permitted for recreational purposes.
The findings form part of an all-Ireland survey by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) published yesterday.
The general picture painted by the research indicates cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in Ireland, crossing all social classes, and is most likely to be used on an experimental basis by younger people.
One in six (17 per cent) have used cannabis at some stage, while just 3 per cent reported using it in the last month.
Noel Ahern, Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, said he did not have any objection to cannabis being legalised for medical purposes, as long as medicines regulators approved the move.
However, Mr Ahern emphasised he was not in favour of legalising it for recreational use given its role as a "gateway" drug among young people.
"I accept that one puff doesn't make you an addict. But, equally, figures show that younger people who experiment with cannabis are more likely to go on and try other drugs later on.
"So there is a value in keeping people away from drugs such as cannabis for as long as possible," Mr Ahern said.
Dr Des Corrigan, chairman of the NACD, said there was mixed evidence on the medicinal benefits of cannabis for conditions such as muscular dystrophy.
Cannabis prevalence rates show young people are more likely to use the drug than older people.
Around one in four (24 per cent) of 15- to 34-year-olds tried cannabis in their lifetime compared to about one in 10 (11 per cent) among those aged 35 to 64.
The average age which people first used cannabis was 18, and hash was the most commonly used form they consumed. Most were given cannabis by a family member or shared it among a group of friends (58 per cent).
A large majority (79 per cent) found it "very easy" or "fairly easy" to obtain cannabis within a 24-hour period. Most obtained it in the house of a friend (57 per cent), while one in five (20 per cent) obtained it at a pub or disco.
Figures on the frequency of use suggest it is mostly used on an experimental basis. Just one in 33 people who ever used cannabis had done so in the last month (3 per cent).
Of people who ever used cannabis regularly, the majority (58 per cent) said they stopped taking it; one in eight (12 per cent) said they tried to stop and failed; while almost one-third (30 per cent) said they never tried to stop.
Cannabis was used commonly across all social groups. Regular use was highest among the "C1" group (junior management and owners of small businesses). It also had higher usage rates among people who had spent longer in the education system.
