Free Democrats vows to decriminalise drug use, if elected

An opposition party led by Georgia’ ex-Defence Minister Irakli Alasania is promising to decriminalise consumption of all drugs, meaning users will not be sent to prison, if his party comes into power after next month’s Parliamentary Elections

Alasania of Free Democrats said it was vital to take a closer look at the country’s drug laws, and he promised his party would liberalise but regulate the country’s drug policy so that it was based on "fairness, equality and protection of human rights”. 

If elected Free Democrats would decriminalise drug consumption and offer better treatment and rehabilitation programs for drug users. 

The party’s policy stated there should be no jail for users of drugs, the amount of drugs for personal use versus amount for supply should be regulated and harsher penalties for drug dealers.

Leader of the Free Democrats Party, Irakli Alasania, held the party's election program presentation yesterday. Photo by the Free Democrats' Press Office. 

Free Democrats believed the state should provide enough funds to cover the costs of special treatment programs for drug users and adopt modern treatment methods to help people recover from a drug addiction.

Several political parties including the Republicans have made drug-related election promises ahead of the October 8 vote. It is an interesting topic that has generated much comment over the years by those in government, within opposition parties and in general society.

Free Democrats was a member of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, which defeated the nine-year rule of the previous United National Movement (UNM) Government in 2012, however the party quit the coalition in 2014 and has since operated separately.

The party will run independently in the October 8 Parliamentary Elections in Georgia.