On March 10, Georgian Dream’s Executive Secretary, Mamuka Mdinaradze, presented legislative amendments aimed at tightening drug-related laws.
Mdinaradze claimed that the proposed changes will introduce stricter regulations within the Criminal Code, the Code of Administrative Offenses, and other laws related to combating drug crimes.
Harsher Penalties for Drug Offenses
Under the proposed amendments, even the sale of a small quantity of drugs will be punishable by 12 to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment.
Mdinaradze emphasized that:
- All forms of drug sales will carry the harshest penalties.
- Even selling a small amount of drugs will result in 12 to 20 years or life imprisonment.
New Legal Framework for Drug Trafficking
The amendments also introduce a legal framework defining drug trafficking and the role of drug dealers within organized crime. The legislation will clarify:
- Who qualifies as a drug dealer, their family members, close relatives, and associates.
- What constitutes a drug dealer’s property.
- A legal mechanism allowing the seizure and transfer of a convicted drug dealer’s movable and immovable assets to the state.
Strict Sanctions for Drug Use
Starting June 1, 2025, individuals who test positive for drug use or refuse drug testing will face severe restrictions:
- 3-year suspension of their driver’s license.
- 5-year ban from working in public service, educational institutions, and other related fields.
- Loss of firearm-related rights.
Mdinaradze’s Statement on Liberal Drug Policy
Mdinaradze criticized what he called the “pseudo-liberal ideology” of recent years, arguing that externally imposed “liberal drug policies” have severely harmed Georgia’s youth, mental health, and national identity. He described these policies as anti-national and anti-Georgian, claiming they have had devastating consequences.
Parliamentary Support
Mdinaradze claimed that in addition to Georgian Dream, the parliamentary pseudo-opposition is also among the initiators of these legislative amendments.
These changes are expected to significantly reshape Georgia’s approach to drug-related offenses, shifting toward a stricter, punitive framework.
Related story: Georgia to tighten drug-related laws with new legislative amendments
