Ruling party official announces anti-drug reform

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the anti-drug reform had been developed in collaboration with the Prime Minister of Georgia and the Government.

In his remarks, Mdinaradze noted that one of the main initiators of the anti-drug and healthy lifestyle promotion campaign was the Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili.

He further highlighted that the so-called liberal drug policy had been part of the pseudo-liberal ideology and externally imposed approaches, which severely harm young people's mental and physical health, damage the gene pool, and result in devastating consequences.

“Nothing could be more anti-national and anti-Georgian than these effects caused by the liberal drug policy”, the ruling party official stressed.

“The parliamentary majority, as well as the opposition, has been actively involved in drafting this reform, and there is absolute unanimity on this issue. We hope that the public will fully support the anti-drug reform, and with public backing, we will begin seeing the first positive results within a few months”, he continued.

Mdinaradze further highlighted the key legislative aspects of the reform:

1. Penalties for selling all types of narcotic substances are being maximally tightened, meaning that drug dealers will face a sentence of 12 to 20 years or life imprisonment not only for selling large or particularly large quantities of drugs but even for selling small amounts.
2. The draft law of Georgia on organised crime and racketeering defines the concepts of drug trafficking and drug dealers and regulates related issues. Specifically, it establishes who can be considered a drug dealer’s family member, close relative, or associated person. Additionally, it will determine what qualifies as a drug dealer’s property. The legislative framework will be refined to enable the confiscation of real estate and movable assets owned by drug traffickers or individuals facilitating drug distribution, transferring them to the state.
3. From June 1 - if a person is confirmed to have used drugs or refuses to undergo a drug test, they will lose the right to drive any type of vehicle for three years. Additionally, they will be banned for five years from working in public service, pedagogical, and educational institutions, as well as from holding firearm-related rights.

He further added that the amendments, aimed at tightening, would also affect other relevant norms of the Criminal Code, the Code of Administrative Offenses, and the Law on Combating Drug Crime.

Mdinaradze called on representatives of the private sector to share these approaches and stand by the state in conducting an anti-drug campaign and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

“For the survival of future generations, we intend to make these issues - anti-drug reform, anti-drug campaign and promotion of a healthy lifestyle - a special national priority”, he concluded.