Russia: a presidential candidate wants to legalize cannabis

Left-wing candidate Ksenia Sobchak is running for president of Russia and is calling for the legalization of cannabis in Russia.

The former reality TV star, nicknamed the «Russian Paris Hilton,» is moving forward with her campaign and wants to reform Russia’s cannabis laws.

Today, possession of less than 6 grams of cannabis is decriminalized in Russia and may be punishable by a fine.

In a statement published on the website Lenta.ru, Sobchak explains that cannabis is healthier than vodka, a product that has caused a major public health crisis in the country and is one of the leading causes of preventable death in Russia.

«I don’t use cannabis myself, but I don’t drink vodka straight from the bottle either,» explains Sobchak. «I don’t understand why drinking huge amounts of vodka is considered normal in our country, but using cannabis isn’t—even though it has fewer consequences, particularly when it comes to crime statistics.»

Genuine commitment or a political stunt? Beyond the debate that could arise on the topic of cannabis in Russia, this isn’t Sobchak’s first time making headlines. Other Russian political parties criticize her, in particular, for failing to respect the call for a boycott the upcoming Russian election, which is expected to result in Putin's reelection anyway.