The Georgian Dream legislative package, which will toughen the responsibility for actions related to drugs, including cannabis and marijuana, was adopted by the Parliament in the first reading.

The legislative package was supported by 83 votes.

The amendments in this direction are included in eight different laws - including the Criminal Code, the Code of Administrative Offenses, the Law on Organized Crime, and others.

The draft law adopted in the first reading will reflect the discretionary authority of the judge, according to which, if a drug addict commits a crime, he will be assigned additional mandatory treatment as a form of criminal punishment.

As part of the tightening of drug policy, several new articles are being added to the criminal law.

The Georgian Dream bill expands the scope of drug-related crimes and toughens penalties - increasing prison terms.

Penalties are toughened for the illegal manufacture, production, transportation, or transfer of psychotropic substances, their analogues, or potent substances, cannabis or marijuana, other narcotics, their analogues, precursors, or new psychoactive substances, as well as for sale.

Administrative liability is also toughened for the illegal manufacture, purchase, storage, transportation, transfer, or use of small quantities of narcotics, their analogues, or precursors without a doctor's prescription.

Illegal manufacture, purchase, storage, transportation, transfer, use of a small amount of a narcotic drug without a doctor's prescription, its analogue or precursor, or evasion of testing to determine its effects will result in a fine of 500 to 2,000 GEL or administrative imprisonment for a term of up to 60 days.

The commission of the above-mentioned administrative offenses will also lead to the restriction of the rights related to weapons and the suspension of the right to drive a vehicle - for a period of 3 years.

The concept of drug trafficking is defined. It is also determined who can be a family member, close relative and related person of a drug trafficker. It is determined what will be considered the property of a drug trafficker.

The initiators of the legislative package are the deputies of the Georgian Dream and People's Power.