Georgia’s High Court Rules Imprisonment for Cannabis Possession is Unconstitutional

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Georgia’s High Court Rules Imprisonment for Cannabis Possession is Unconstitutional

iowabudIn the case of Beka Tsikarishvili v. Parliament (application 592), the Constitutional Court of Georgia has ruled that it’s unconstitutional to imprison someone for purchasing and possessing cannabis for personal use.

In 2013, Beka Tsikarish was arrested and charged for purchasing and having in her possession 65 grams of cannabis. The court ruled that imprisoning her violates Article 17 § 2 of Georgia’s Constitution, which states that; “No one shall be subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment”.

In Georgia, the country considers anything over 50 grams to be for distribution purposes, which led to Tsikarish being charged with felony cannabis distribution (punishable by 7 to 14 years in prison). The Court ruled that 70 grams does not represent an amount which guarantees someone was intending to sell it, meaning she can’t be charged with distribution. Since Tsikarish can’t be charged with distribution, the court ruled that imprisoning her is unconstitutional as she was possessing the cannabis simply for personal use.

The court noted that the nation’s legislature has an obligation to establish legal provisions that would give judges the ability to fully determine whether cannabis is possessed with the intent to sale, or whether it’s for personal use.


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In the meantime, this ruling sets precedent across the country, making it illegal for someone to be imprisoned for possessing cannabis if it’s not clearly deemed for distribution purposes.

TheJointBlog

8 Comments

  • Larry Wells
    November 9, 2015

    Awesome!

  • Dale
    November 9, 2015

    Full repeal is what will be the right course of action no outrageous prison or fees should ever be involved it is unconstitutional and must stop with Bernie Sanders proposal!

  • Hempman
    November 9, 2015

    Your article incorrectly refers to Georgia a state (paragraph 3). This news is about the REPUBLIC (country) of Georgia…NOT the STATE of Georgia!

    • Anonymous
      November 9, 2015

      There are more definitions of state than you understand.

      • Hempman
        November 10, 2015

        Says the BALLESS dick to afraid to post his name

  • Gordon
    November 9, 2015

    “the state” refers in this case correctly to the country. The state of France, the state of Iceland, all are correct. It is refering to the corporate body or the “state appartus”, the legal entity so to speak.

    • Mike
      November 9, 2015

      very well put..Gordon

    • Hempman
      November 10, 2015

      Gee your right…there is just NO WAY people with confuse the state of Georgia…with the STATE of Georgia!

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