Azerbaijan, Baku, June 22 /Trend, K.Zarbaliyeva/
Azerbaijan develops proposals for legislation on the application of non-custodial punishment with regards to drug addicts.
As a result of joint discussions with the General Prosecutor's Office, proposals are developed to define the difference between a drug addict, on the one hand, and the producer and seller of drugs, on the other hand, in Article 234 (illegal manufacturing, purchase, storage, transport, transfer or sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or precursors) of the Criminal Code of the country, the head of the Office of National Propaganda against Drugs Mazahir Efendiyev told Trend.
"There is no difference between a drug addict, on the one hand, and the producer and seller of drugs, on the other hand, in Article 234. We believe that the manufacturer and seller of drugs should be punished in a more severe form. And it is wrong to arrest drug addicts," said Efendiyev.
He said alternative penalties should be applied with regard to drug addicts - fines, corrective labor and compulsory treatment. According to him, an aggressive attitude has formed in the society with regards to drug addicts, while they need help reintegrate into society.
According to Efendiyev, he supports liberal politics, new thinking and new methods of struggle, and the use of "soft" drugs should be legalized.
"Sometimes various people get into drug dependence. Having found them, the law-enforcement agencies immediately sent those people to correctional institutions. Instead of treatment and recovery, these people become drug addicts and contribute to the fact that others sick with this disease. The society is not ready for the legalization of "soft" drugs. Enlightenment work should be conducted in this regard, and we must prepare the society for this. After that, the society itself will require a liberal policy," said Efendiyev.