The new Criminal Code entered into force on 1 May. Article 259 provided a fine, arrest or up to two years' imprisonment for unauthorised drug possession and related acts without intent to distribute. For a small quantity, it instead classified the conduct as a criminal misdemeanour punishable by community service, restriction of liberty, a fine or arrest. It also provided release from criminal liability for specified acts when a person voluntarily sought medical help or surrendered the drugs. This was a tier within criminal law, rather than legal possession or supply.[1][2][3]
Listed for context. No score change is recorded for Lithuania here.
References
- Lithuanian Seimas — original Criminal Code, Law VIII-1968 of 26 September 2000Article 259(1)–(3); compare the official English translation consolidated through June 2008
- Lithuanian Seimas — official English Criminal Code translation, amended through 12 June 2008Printed page 75, Article 259; its relevant wording matches the original Lithuanian text
- Lithuania Constitutional Court — ruling of 15 June 2006, Case 45/04Reasoning section I, paragraph 2, printed page 5, confirms the code entered into force on 1 May 2003archived
Checked. The date and the event were compared with a source that was read.