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Lithuanian health minister backs decriminalizing marijuana: report

Xinhua, April 20, 2017 Adjust font size:

Lithuanian health minister Aurelijus Veryga said Thursday that he supports decriminalization of marijuana, though he remains against its legalization.

Veryga said he supports removing criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana for personal use.

"I would support decriminalization, when a consumer is not punished for possessing or using marijuana, since an addicted person should be cured and not punished," Veryga was quoted as saying by local media.

However, he is against the legalization of recreational marijuana. "I would be against that, since we have enough problems and we don't need another one," said Veryga.

The minister emphasized one should understand the use of cannabis causes addiction, damages cognitive functions, affects emotional intellect, and "legalization of cannabis is not a priority nor for the coming days, nor for this year"

His remarks came in response to the rally of supporters of cannabis legalization. On Thursday, cannabis activists held a rally near the Seimas, the Lithuanian parliament, urging lawmakers to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis.

Amendments imposing criminal penalties for possessing cannabis came into force at the start of this year. Endit