The Senate tacitly passed on Monday a legislative proposal by S.O.S. Romania that aims to reduce drug use among minors and young people by applying progressive sanctions and mandatory rehabilitation measures.
The note of tacit adoption of the legislative proposal, for which the debate and vote deadline expired on June 27, was presented by the President of the Senate, Mircea Abrudean, who chaired Monday's plenary session.
The legislative proposal aims to discourage drug use by introducing progressive sanctions, as follows:
(1) First offense - The consumer will be required to participate in a counseling and detoxification program for a period of at least 3 months. In case of refusal, he will be sanctioned with a criminal fine of 1,000 lei.
(2) Second offense - The consumer will be sanctioned with a criminal fine of 2,000 lei and will be obliged to follow a counseling and detoxification program for 6 months.
(3) Third offense - The consumer will be sanctioned with a criminal fine of 3,000 lei and will be obliged to follow a counseling and detoxification program for 12 months.
(4) Fourth offense - The consumer will be sentenced to 1 month of imprisonment with execution and will be obliged to follow a counseling and detoxification program for 6 months post-detention.
(5) Fifth offense - The consumer will be sentenced to 2 months of imprisonment and will be required to follow a counseling and detoxification program for 6 months post-detention.
(6) For each subsequent offense, the prison sentence increases progressively by 1 month, up to a maximum of 1 year of imprisonment and will be subject to an electronic monitoring program for 12 months post-detention.
"The proposed model of sanctions is inspired by the legislation of some states that have managed to significantly reduce drug use. By gradually increasing fines and prison sentences, consumers are motivated to give up this habit before reaching critical situations. At the same time, the sanctions allow for a phased intervention, avoiding the application of disproportionate penalties from the first offense," the explanatory memorandum states.
The legislative proposal will be debated by the Chamber of Deputies, the decision-making body in this case.
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