[ad_1]
“Yesterday, together with our partners, we registered a bill that proposed to abolish criminal liability for possession of small amounts of psychoactive substances without any purpose and replace it with administrative liability: a warning or a fine, or a consultation with a doctor and the obligation to seek medical treatment “. Presented by Morgana Danielė of the Freedom Group.
According to her, in 2017, there were misunderstandings and possession of small amounts of drugs was criminalized. As a result, the number of drug-related cases has increased.
“People begin to judge even by ashes in the ashtray, if there is some kind of drug from the ashes there. In fact, many young people are being persecuted, criminal labels are being sewn on and thousands of fines are being imposed, ”Ms Danielė said during a press conference.
The goal of this project is to hold people administrative rather than criminal responsibility for possessing small drugs without trying to distribute them. 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 .
Adoption of the proposed amendments, according to their initiators, would help to focus health-oriented drug policies. “The bill will allow us to shape a healthier society and move from a demonstrative and false decision to a real decision and help people in need,” said Danielle.
Morgana Danielė
© DELFI / Josvydas Elinskas
Focus on addiction and the legal system
Ms. Danielė emphasized that due to current regulation, people with addictions are in a cycle of incarceration and illness and are not being treated but incarcerated.
“Such a vicious circle can turn in 20 to 30 years. And for all those courts and incarcerations, as well as detention in jails and not for treatment, they are paid by taxpayers,” explained the representative of Freedom Group.
Such factors, as he emphasized, put pressure on the law enforcement system and even take high-profile cases. The United Nations, according to Ms. Daniel, does not recommend criminalizing the possession of small drugs for proliferation purposes. According to the United Nations, this goes against solid scientific evidence and represents a heavy burden on public health.
“At the global level, we have strong scientific evidence that such punishments not only fail to achieve the expected results of them, but also harm society as a whole, people and national economies, as well as human health.” , said.
The purpose of the bill, as stated in the bill’s explanatory memorandum, is to ensure the correct application of the principles of reasonableness, proportionality, justice and last resort. Form a drug policy focused on public and personal health in Lithuania according to the good practices of foreign countries and the recommendations of international organizations. These steps, as he pointed out, are already advancing in Lithuania and in the Seimas, both among the partners of the ruling majority and among the representatives of the opposition, there are people who want to fight for the formation of science-based policies. Therefore, strong project support is expected in the Seimas.
Low drug levels would be identified and regulated according to recommendations already approved by the Ministry of Health. They are available here.
Continuity of the previous policy
At a press conference to present the project initiated by the Freedom Faction, lawyer Mindaugas Lankauskas assured that the proposed project sees the continuity of the activities of the outgoing government, which shows the consensus of different political forces on this issue.
„2018 The outgoing government approved the State Law for the Prevention of Consumption and Control of Drugs, Tobacco and Alcohol 2018-2028. the program, whose item 97.1 foresees the decriminalization of less dangerous drug-related crimes, for which administrative responsibility is envisaged, ensuring, based on individual assessment, interventions by the educational and socio-sanitary system instead of criminal ones ” explained the lawyer.
According to M. Lankauskas, the project is definitely not radical.
It is strictly forbidden to use the information published by DELFI on other websites, in the media or elsewhere, or to distribute our material in any way without consent, and if consent has been obtained, it is necessary to indicate DELFI as the source .
[ad_2]
