Stricter liability measures are planned regarding marijuana and the cannabis plant

Stricter liability measures are being introduced regarding marijuana and the cannabis plant. The relevant legislative package will be reviewed by Parliament under an expedited procedure. Amendments will be made to the Code of Administrative Offenses, the Criminal Code, and other related laws.

The purchase, possession, or transportation of a small quantity—up to 10 grams of the cannabis plant, up to 5 grams of dried marijuana, or up to 10 grams of raw marijuana—will result in administrative liability for the first offense. In case of repeated violations, purchase, possession, transportation, or transfer will be punishable by a fine, community service, or imprisonment for up to one year.

In cases involving criminally punishable amounts—10 to 155 grams of the cannabis plant, 5 to 70 grams of dried marijuana, or 10 to 150 grams of raw marijuana—purchase and possession will be punishable by up to six years of imprisonment. Illegal production, manufacture, transfer, or transportation of these amounts will be punishable by imprisonment ranging from 3 to 7 years.

As for large quantities—155 to 750 grams of cannabis plant, 70 to 250 grams of dried marijuana, and 140 to 500 grams of raw marijuana—purchase and possession will be punishable by 5 to 8 years of imprisonment, and production, manufacture, transportation, and transfer by 6 to 9 years.

In the case of especially large quantities—750 grams or more of cannabis plant, 250 grams or more of dried marijuana, and 500 grams or more of raw marijuana—purchase and possession will be punishable by 8 to 20 years of imprisonment or life imprisonment.

Stricter regulations are also planned for the sale of marijuana and the cannabis plant.

According to Archil Gorduladze, Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, the Constitutional Court’s rulings on the cultivation of the cannabis plant will be reviewed, and the same sanctions will apply as those imposed for the cultivation of other plants containing narcotic substances. Specifically, for cultivating up to 145 grams of cannabis plant, imprisonment of up to 6 years will be established. Alternative sanctions, such as community service or house arrest, will also be introduced.