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57 MPs voted in favor, 24 members of the Seimas voted against, 20 MPs abstained. This bill will be discussed in the Seimas two more times, in the stages of consideration and adoption.
The promoter of this amendment to the law is Morgana Danielė, representative of the Freedom Group.
The bill presented to Parliament seeks that people in possession of small drugs, who do not seek to distribute them, are subject to administrative rather than criminal responsibility. The proposed modifications to the existing regulation provide for the production, processing, acquisition, possession, transportation and dispatch of small quantities of narcotic drugs, psychotropics or other psychoactive substances without the purpose of sale or other distribution, subject to a warning or fine of twenty to one hundred euros .
If the offense were to be repeated, it would result in a fine of between one hundred and two hundred euros.
Offer to switch to another system
The bill was presented in the Parliament Hall by its initiator, M. Danielė.
“The most important aspect of our strategy is the transition from a system based on punishment to one oriented towards health. This change has led us to a science-based drug policy in which human rights play an important role. Lithuania has taken all key aspects of drug policy into account for the first time, these are not my words.
Lithuanian Health Minister Aurelijus Veryga spoke those words at the United Nations (UN) last year. I was there and I was madly proud of our country, I was approached by representatives of delegations from other countries, specialists and they praised me for the scientific and progressive approach of our state, the excellent speech of the Minister.
So I knew in this House today that there would be a lot of politicking, but we all agree on that. We have all the necessary knowledge that the current system in Lithuania has flaws: criminal liability is excessive, scientific evidence has long and clearly shown that criminal laws do not reduce the prevalence of drugs in society or their use ”, said.
In his speech he emphasized that both the UN and the World Health Organization (WHO) were calling for the decriminalization of the possession of small amounts of drugs without purpose. According to her, scientific evidence shows that prosecution increases the damage to people’s lives and the state in general.
Complicates the law enforcement system
Ms. Danielė emphasized that the current regulation unduly burdens the law enforcement system and disproportionately affects youth.
“In three years, the number of insignificant cases in Lithuania has doubled, delaying the examination of really important, sometimes even resounding cases. Many government officials (investigators, prosecutors, and judges) are wasting time solving 0.06 THC in ash cases. However, so far their request to adjust the proportionality of the sanctions has not been taken into account, “he said.
“Let us regulate punishment so that it no longer causes harm, and invest in those measures that are most effective today: prevention, harm reduction and treatment. Let us help our police to protect, protect and help, to participate in helping addicts by referring them to medical institutions.
The element of punishment is maintained, a message of punishment is sent: the work of the Administrative Court will be carried out, the cases will be known, fines will be paid, specialists will be referred and, if necessary, medical treatment will be provided “, explained the member of the Freedom Faction.
Criminal liability – for larger amounts
A person who illegally manufactures, processes, acquires, acquires, possesses, transports or ships more than a small quantity of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances without the intention of selling or otherwise distributing them would be punished with a proposal, fine or arrest, or imprisonment of up to two years. If a person voluntarily seeks help or wishes to donate medicine, they will be exempt from criminal liability.
The bill reads: “A person who voluntarily requested medical assistance from a health care institution or a state institution for the return of illegally manufactured, acquired or retained products for the purpose of distributing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances production, acquisition and substance storage “.
Small and large quantities of drugs are identified and regulated in accordance with the recommendations already approved by the Ministry of Health. They are available here.
As a result of this initiative, 39 members of the Seimas signed: M. Danielė, Kazys Starkevičius, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Aušrinė Armonaitė, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Ingrida Šimonytė, Stasys Šedbaras, Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius, Silva Lengvinienarkišitis Matijoaaitis. , Virgilijus Alekna, Andrius Bagdonas, Evelina Dobrovolska, Artūras Žukauskas, Kasparas Adomaitis, Paulė Kuzmickienė, Žygimantas Pavilionis, Dovilė Šakalienė, Gintautas Paluckijus, Linas Jonauskas, Domas Griškeviudačasiusčristomas, Kristiškeviudačasius, Tomas Griškeviudačasiusčasuskonas, Kiskeviudačasckius Kernagis, Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, Justas Džiugelis.
MPs Antanas Guoga and Vytautas Gapšys withdrew their signatures after the initiative, but withdrew their signatures.
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