Parliament postpones discussions of marijuana export bill
Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze says that the church’s views regarding the bill is important for the ruling party. Photo: Parliament press office.
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze announced today that parliament is temporarily postponing discussions on an Interior Ministry-initiated bill on the export of marijuana, as the “public is being misled regarding the legal initiative.”
Quite a bit of false information is being spread concerning the bill which only discusses the export of marijuana from Georgia for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. People need to be informed regarding the bill and the information campaign will need time,” Kobakhidze said.
Kobakhidze further said that any bill adopted by parliament will be the result of a consensus between the government and the people.
Kobakhidze stated that this week the parliament will discuss another bill initiated by the Interior Ministry, which restricts marijuana consumption in certain areas after the decision of the Constitutional Court earlier this year to legalise consumption of the drug.
Georgian Patriarch Ilia II has advised the government to think twice before approving both bills, as both of them carry risks to life, health and the development of the younger generation.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has stated that an Interior Ministry initiative concerning marijuana export from Georgia for medical and cosmetic purposes will be strongly regulated. Bakhtadze stated that after the decision of the Georgian Constitutional Court concerning the legalisation of marijuana consumption, he tasked the Interior Ministry to draft a bill.
Georgian online media outlet Interpressnews has reported that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has drafted an initiative through which Georgia may export marijuana for medical and cosmetic purposes.
Georgia’s Constitutional Court has revealed a verdict today, saying that no one will be sent to prison for using marijuana.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has released information on limitations to consumption of marijuana, following the Constitutional Court of Georgia’s decision that decreed a universal ban on it unconstitutional earlier this year.
The government of Georgia will withdraw its marijuana export bill from parliament, which would have allowed marijuana cultivation for the export of medical and cosmetic cannabis products.