Parliament postpones marijuana regulatory bill discussion for two months
The Interior Ministry of Georgia initiated the bill on marijuana cultivation for medical purposes in early September. Photo: N.Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The Georgian parliament has postponed the discussion of the marijuana regulatory bill for two months, based on the decision of the parliament health committee.
The bill would regulate the rules and procedures of marijuana cultivation for export, for medical and cosmetic purposes only, which is strongly opposed by the opposition and the church.
The bill reads that the licenses for marijuana cultivation will be issued for five years and the cultivation of marijuana will be allowed only in a closed environment in an area equipped by surveillance cameras.
Both the interior and the exterior of such areas must be under 24-hour surveillance.
The government will at first only issue 10 licenses for marijuana cultivation and the cost of the license will amount to 25,000 GEL.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze had earlier stated that the legislative body suspended discussions on the bill in order to dispel doubts around the initiative and inform public.
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.
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 US Department of State says in its 2019 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report that Georgia should take steps to supervise its gaming industry.The report reads that there are 416 lotteries and gaming institutions registered in Georgia and 31 casinos.