The Parliament approved amendments to several laws in the third reading, as a result of which the liability for marijuana and cannabis plant will be tightened.

The Parliament considered the relevant legislative package in an expedited manner. The amendments were made to both the Code of Administrative Offenses, as well as to the Criminal Code and other laws.

The first case of the purchase, storage, transportation of small amounts of cannabis - up to 10 grams, marijuana - up to 5 grams of dried, and raw - up to 10 grams will result in administrative liability. In case of repetition - the purchase, storage, transportation, transfer will result in a fine or community service or deprivation of liberty for a term of up to one year.

The purchase and possession of a criminally punishable amount of cannabis plant from 10 grams to 155 grams, dried marijuana from 5 grams to 70 grams, and raw marijuana from 10 grams to 150 grams will result in up to 6 years of imprisonment, while illegal production, manufacture, shipment or transportation will result in 3 to 7 years of imprisonment.

As for large quantities of cannabis plant (155 to 750 grams), marijuana - from 70 to 250 grams in the case of dried, and from 140 to 500 grams in the case of raw, the purchase and possession will result in 5 to 8 years of liability, while production, manufacture, shipment and transportation will result in 6 to 9 years.

In the case of a particularly large amount, which means 750 grams or more of herbal cannabis, 50 grams or more of dried marijuana, and 500 grams or more of raw marijuana, the purchase and possession will result in imprisonment for a term of 8 to 20 years or life imprisonment.

Stricter regulations are also in place regarding the sale of marijuana and herbal cannabis.