Romanian drug decriminalization legislative proposal

A legislative proposal has been introduced in the Romanian Parliament to decriminalize the possession of drugs for personal use. The initiative, introduced by Senator Victoria Stoiciu and supported by Senators Cristian Ghinea and Daniel Fenechiu, seeks to reclassify drug possession from a criminal offense to an administrative contravention.

Under the proposed plan, possession of risk drugs would result in fines between 1,000 and 1,500 lei, while high-risk drugs would incur fines between 1,500 and 3,000 lei. The proposal also aims to remove criminal penalties for crossing borders with drugs intended for personal use. The initiative clarifies that drugs would not be legalized and that trafficking would remain a criminal offense, with fine revenue directed toward national prevention and medical assistance programs.

The proposal has met opposition from PSD Vice-President Corneliu Ștefan, who characterized the initiative as “unacceptable,” arguing that the state should prioritize stricter legislation to protect youth and fight traffickers.

Adding to the opposition, the Romanian General Prosecutor's Office has expressed its disapproval of the initiative. General Prosecutor Cristina Chiriac stated that such a move could “weaken anti-drug prevention and combat efforts,” arguing that reducing sanctions is not an opportune solution in the current social and criminal context. The Prosecutor's Office warned that the move could undermine national anti-drug policies and noted that current possession laws provide essential investigative leads for authorities to track distributors.