Lithuania moves towards decriminalization of cannabis

The Seimas, the Lithuanian parliament, has just approved the national agenda for drug, tobacco and alcohol control, consumption prevention and harm reduction up to 2035.

The 12-year proposals include measures that would decriminalize possession, the acquisition, storage and transportation of small quantities of cannabis.

According to the Lithuanian newspaper LRT, The Seimas did not support the initiative of a group of parliamentarians to remove the decriminalization proposals from the bill.

Under these proposals, anyone found in possession of small quantities of cannabis would receive a warning and a fine of between 50 and 300 euros, instead of being subject to criminal penalties.

The bill has six key objectives, including delaying the use of psychoactive substances, while managing risks and providing access to quality treatment for addicts.

The document recommends that municipalities prepare and implement measures to control, prevent consumption and reduce harm.

In December 2022, the Seimas put forward a proposal to amend the Code of Administrative Offences so that anyone found in possession of, acquiring, storing or transporting a small quantity of cannabis would only receive a warning and a fine of between 50 and 300 euros, instead of criminal penalties.

At the time, the bill had been rejected. However, at the end of April, Seimas members voted to approve the findings of the Ethics and Procedures Committee, which found that parliamentary rules had been breached in the original vote.

According to local media, This violation was due to the fact that expert opinions had not been sought on the bill before it was voted on. The bill then returned to the «examination phase within the Law and Public Order Committee», before being put to a new vote in the Seimas.