The Seimas considered a proposal to decriminalize drugs: the initiative broke the ice

The illegal possession of small amounts of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances without the aim of distribution is now punishable by a fine, arrest or imprisonment of up to two years.

It is proposed to remove this provision from the Penal Code.

Criminal liability would remain in force only for those who come into contact with more than small amounts of narcotic or psychotropic substances.

It is also proposed to exempt from criminal responsibility those who voluntarily request medical assistance in a health institution or a state institution and deliver illegally acquired drugs.

It is also proposed to supplement administrative offenses with a warning or fine of between € 20 and € 100 for the production, processing, acquisition, possession, transportation and shipment of small amounts of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or other psychoactive substances for sale or other distribution. .

The same amount of fine would be threatened if caught in an impressive public place, and if the offense was repeated, the fine amount would increase to EUR 100-200, the offender could be banned from attending events in public places.

You think the main problem is distribution

Speaking to Seimas on Tuesday, M. Danielle argued that the proposal to decriminalize drug possession at Seimas would be highly “politicized.”

Criminal laws increase the damage to our society through excessive persecution.

“I know there will be a lot of politicking in this House today, but I also know that we all agree on that. That we all have the necessary knowledge that the current system in Lithuania is flawed, that it is redundant, that it is not based on science.

And that scientific evidence has long and clearly demonstrated that criminal laws not only do not reduce the prevalence of drugs in society, they do not reduce their use, but they also increase the damage to our society due to excessive persecution ”, said the Seimas member.

In his opinion, the main problem now is the distribution of drugs, which we are not addressing.

“We have a fifth of the reduction in the number of pre-trial investigations for drug trafficking. This means that today we are working diligently to punish our citizens, but we no longer find the resources to solve the real problem: the problem of distribution.” said M. Daniel.

The MP urged her colleagues at Seimas to abandon the “excessive and unnecessary, repressive” approach towards Lithuanian citizens and regulate punishments.

“This means that the punishments will be maintained, they will be proportionate, they will comply with scientific evidence and the recommendations of the United Nations,” said Daniel pro, thus proposing to focus on the prevention and treatment of addictions.

Differentiate between what is considered a small amount

Aušrinė Armonaitė, the spokesperson for the Freedom Party, who participated in the Seimas session, noted that her colleagues at the Seimas feared the purpose of the proposals: to decriminalize not only the possession of cannabis, but also other drugs.

In response, Ms. Danielė agreed that criminal liability should not be threatened for possession of a small amount of drugs, but what would be considered a small amount would be different.

“The amounts are really different. We are talking about very small amounts and they are different for each substance: <...> if it is heroin, then, in principle, drops, 0.02 grams, it seems to me that if it is cannabis, it is, of course, a greater quantity ”, said M. Danielle.

Conservative Mykolas Majauskas supported the decriminalization initiative, but cautioned: “We cannot normalize drug use, so it is very important to ensure that the public is widely informed about the harm caused by drugs. Second, we must treat addicts. “

Vytautas Bakas, who is part of a mixed group of Seimas members, called the initiative unfavorable. According to him, this is a public relations campaign. The politician said he did not understand what the goal was to legalize drug use or decriminalize responsibility.

During the election campaign, he said he visited a prison and those sentenced there were happy that the amendments could free him sooner.

For me, it is like a campaign to legalize consumption.

“Criminal law applies retroactively. So what problem are we going to face? The project is not ready. For me it is like a campaign to legalize consumption, to encourage it, the objectives are not clear, so I invite you to refrain and talk about it, “urged V. Bakas.

“If you don’t organize a good scientific discussion, next time my voice won’t be,” said conservative Kęstutis Masiulis.

Supported by the majority of the Social Democrats who voted

The Seimas, with 57 votes in favor, 24 against and 20 abstentions, approved a proposal to modify the Administrative and Penal Codes and decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs.

The initiative was supported by all the members of the Freedom Faction who participated in the vote, the majority of the representatives of the Liberal Movement and the Lithuanian Christian National-Democratic Union – the liberals Ričardas Juška and Jonas Varkalys, the conservative Valdas Rakutis se abstained.

Three other conservatives, Audronius Ažubalis, Arvydas Pocius and Vilija Aleknaitė-Abramikienė, voted against, and four, Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys, Vytautas Juozapaitis, Linas Slušnys and Andrius Vyšniauskas, registered to vote but did not express their positions.

The desire of the majority of the rulers to decriminalize the possession of low-volume drugs was supported by the Social Democratic opposition. The majority voted in favor, only Kęstutis Vilkauskas lobbied against and Liudas Jonaitis abstained.

Domas Griškevičius, who works in the Joint Group of Seimas Members, also expressed his support.

The government does not ask for a conclusion

Of the members of the opposition Labor Party, the majority voted against it, and only Valentinas Bukauskas abstained.

Two “workers” Antanas Guoga and Vytautas Gapšys helped sign a proposal to decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs, but withdrew them on Tuesday before the Seimas session. That was what the party asked for.

Both “workers” did not participate in the late vote on decriminalization.

There were no “Lithuanian” voters in favor of the opposition Lithuanian Peasants and Greens Union – politicians either abstained or voted “no”.

The Seimas decided not to request the Government’s conclusion on the amendments.

The ruling conservatives, the Freedom Party and the Liberal Movement agreed to abolish criminal liability for possession of small amounts of psychoactive substances without the purpose of distribution by signing a coalition agreement.

It is true that the parties stressed that this is due to differences of opinion among some of their members.