Circulation of narcotic substances to be regulated by a new law in Moldova

The parliament today approved, in the first reading, the draft law on the circulation of narcotic substances, psychotropic substances, plants containing such substances, precursors, new psychoactive substances and drug substitutes.

The legislative initiative was presented in plenum by Health Minister Ala Nemerenco, and aims to protect public health, as well as align the national legislation with European Union standards and international conventions.

According to the cited source, the new draft law is meant to replace the current legal framework, regulated by Law No. 382/1999, which no longer meets the present challenges and realities.

The document proposes strengthening control mechanisms and preventing the illegal use of substances with abuse potential, and the goals for which they can be legally used will be strictly regulated.

The main provisions include: transposing European regulations regarding drug precursors, with their classification according to risk; establishing a legal framework for controlling new psychoactive substances, including evaluation procedures, temporary bans and inclusion in national lists; operationalizing the National Drug Observatory and creating a National Early Warning System, in cooperation with the European Drugs Agency; regulating the cultivation of industrial and horticultural hemp, in order to allow its economic turning to account,  under strict control.