In 2024 prosecutors stopped opening criminal cases for small amounts of plant-based drugs, cannabis included, when there was no evidence of sale, and sent the files for an administrative fine instead. Drug crimes fell from 5,070 in 2023 to 3,639 in 2024, while administrative drug offences rose from 387 to 633. The strategy says that in 2023 all small possession cases had been charged under the criminal articles, so the change was a break with practice rather than a new statute.[1]
Listed for context. No score change is recorded for Armenia here.
References
- Armenia — Government Decision No. 736-L of 5 June 2025 on the 2025–2027 drug strategyStrategy, paragraphs 15–17: 2018–2024 crime figures; 2024 charging practice; administrative offences 2021–2024.archived
Checked. The date and the event were compared with a source that was read.