NOVO-OGARYOVO (Moscow Region) (Sputnik) – Russia is against the legalization of recreational drugs that some countries are allowing, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.
“Of course, we must take into consideration in our current work that a range of governments have begun a true campaign on the legalization of certain types of narcotics, or so-called recreational drugs. We, of course, are against such approaches and this point of view needs to be more actively moved forward on all international platforms,” Putin said during a government council meeting.
The Russian leader added that copying the previous system of drug abusers' compulsory treatment should not occur, but a system of social rehabilitation based on modern approaches is necessary.
Putin noted that up until 1994 the rehabilitation of drug abusers was handled by treatment-labor agencies that operated under the Interior Ministry’s system.
“Of course, that system wasn’t perfect, it was compulsory, and as we remember it had a lot of problems and it would be an obvious mistake to try to copy or recreate it in its pure former form. But, obviously, a system of social rehabilitation needs to be created on a new base and with modern approaches, but this needs to be created,” Putin said.
Uruguay and some US states have legalized using marijuana for recreational purposes.
While supporters claim that legalizing marijuana for recreational use would deprive criminal drug cartels of profits and would generate substantial tax revenue, the opponents argue the legalization would lead to increased use of marijuana.
Russian president also stated that Russia’s partners located in Afghanistan are not joining its efforts to combat drug trafficking.
“There are continuing attempts to spread drugs to Russian regions, including heroin from Afghanistan. Unfortunately, we have to state that our partners, those who are present in Afghanistan, are not agreeing to joint work,” Putin said at a meeting of Russia’s State Council.
Despite the lack of support in fighting drug trafficking, the number of drug-related deaths among youth in Russia decreased by 30 percent between 2005 and 2014, the president added.
Earlier in June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia was ready to cooperate with Afghanistan in all areas, including in the fight against drug production.
Afghanistan produces some 90 percent of the world’s illicit opiates. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that in 2014 drug production in the country rose by 17 percent.
