Gov't to Adopt New Drug Policy in Late July

Parliament will presumably approve the draft drug policy in late July, at an extraordinary session. The information was released by the Chairman of the Healthcare Committee, Akaki Zoidze.

In May, the government stated that the new drug policy would be adopted in late June, however it was postponed by a month due to the unexpected governmental changes, as the former Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili resigned on June 13 and the new PM, Mamuka Bakhtadze, launched structural changes and cabinet reshuffle when he was approved by the parliament.

"The Chairman of the Parliament said that the law should be adopted in July. The government's participation is essential in finalizing the issue, so we plan to discuss the draft law at the plenary session after July 16," said Zoidze.

There were mass protest rallies in Georgia in May, which were launched after the police raids in two nightclubs in Tbilisi, as a result of which 8 drug-dealers were arrested.

The youth demanded immediate change of the drug policy, saying it should be more humane and not focused on the punishment of drug-addicts.

The Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia and then PM, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, promised the protesters that a new and more liberal drug policy would be adopted this summer.

By Thea Morrison

Photo source: 1TV

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