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after the overdose cases – thus it was
a de facto
during past
two years
and now it
is a de jure
situation.
This new amendment in drug legislation
is a
progressive
change
however
Georgia
still has
one of the
harshest
drug
policies in
the region
and on its
account many
individual
victims and
families.
According to the current legislation
drug use,
keep and
purchase for
the purpose
of personal
use in small
quantities
is still
punishable
either by
fine 500 GEL
or
administrative
imprisonment
up to one
month, while
during a one
year if
busted
second time
a drug user
is subject
to the
criminal
prosecution
with the
highest
fines which
might be
some 5000
GEL and
imprisonment
up to one
year. At the
same time
because of
inhuman and
unclear
practice
most of the
drug users
prosecuted
under
article 260
of criminal
code with up
to 11, 7-14
years or
life
imprisonment
and
deprivation
of
fundamental
civil
rights.
There is no
categorization
of drugs and
any
practical
distinction
between
dealers,
casual
users,
commercial
dealers and
dependent
users. In
addition
there is no
distinction
of soft and
hard drugs
neither in
theory nor
in practice.
The current legislation of Georgia
allows the
de facto
decriminalization
of all types
of drugs but
there is
still no
political
will to
implement
pragmatic
drug policy
and save
human life,
protect
public
health and
interests of
the society. |
