2018-09-12
"After the Constitutional Court's decision on marijuana consumption, a new legal reality emerged-marijuana use in private spaces is no longer a crime or even an administrative offence. Immediately after the publication of this court decision, I instructed the Interior Ministry to prepare a relevant bill strictly and clearly banning marijuana consumption in public places," Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze stated at the briefing before today's Government meeting, in his comment on the bill for regulating marijuana consumption.
To protect public interests and safety, it is important to review this bill in a timely manner, so that the law enforcements may have effective tools to control marijuana consumption in order to protect society, especially youth, from harm and negative influence.
"The bill on regulating marijuana consumption will be referred to the Parliament. According to the bill, marijuana consumption in public areas-such as public transport, in the presence of minors, in the vicinity of educational institutions, on duty in the case of public servants, pedagogues, doctors, and others-will be strictly controlled and punished," Mamuka Bakhtadze emphasized.
According to the Prime Minister, to protect minors from the harm arising from marijuana consumption, marijuana use by persons under 21 will be liable for penalty, and felony charges will be brought against coercing persons under 21 to consume marijuana.
"In addition, I would like to emphasize that stricter penalties will be enforced for promoting and advertising marijuana consumption. Let me remind you that selling marijuana is still a felony," Mamuka Bakhtadze said.
As the Head of Government emphasized, part of these regulations strictly monitors cannabis cultivation in order maximally to avoid illegal activities.
Prime Minister's Press Office