Moldova raises small-possession fines and lengthens supply sentences

Moldova raised the penalties for small personal possession and drug supply on 28 August 2026. Small possession stayed an administrative contravention, but its fine became 200–300 conventional units, while ordinary unlawful supply acquired a prison range of six to ten years.^[1]

A fine can still be substantial

A conventional unit is worth fifty Moldovan lei, making that personal-possession fine MDL10,000–15,000.^[2] The amended administrative provision also permits a temporary restriction on carrying out the relevant activity.^[1]

Moldova’s statistics office distinguishes a criminal record from other legal consequences: it begins when a criminal conviction becomes final and lasts until extinguishment or rehabilitation.^[2] Remaining outside criminal law therefore matters even when the administrative fine is high.^[1][2]

Personal possession and giving it away follow different rules

The criminal code separates handling for oneself from handling with intent to transfer drugs.^[1] Its personal-handling offence provides alternatives to prison for an ordinary large amount, while aggravated cases carry custody and occupational restrictions.^[1] The supply provision applies to unlawful transfer and distribution, without creating a general exception for a gift between adults.^[1]

Public consumption also has its own criminal provision, with a fine or community work.^[1] The ordinary administrative use offence applies where the conduct does not constitute a crime.^[1]

Hemp farmers use an authorisation route

Separate hemp rules approved in April placed farm authorisations and monitoring with the National Food Safety Agency, ANSA.^[3] They expanded permitted processing beyond fibre, seed and oil to stalks, biomass and other lawful derivatives.^[3]

Farmers must keep production records, use laboratory sampling during flowering and report production annually.^[3] Their authorisation can support domestic marketing and exports, and ANSA can require corrections or withdraw it following infringements.^[3]

Checking the quantity classification matters

The Interior Ministry opened work on replacement drug-quantity tables in July 2026, alongside the replacement drug law taking effect in August.^[4] Its consultation described replacing the older government quantity decision to match the new classification system.^[4]

That makes a product’s legal classification essential to understanding the penalty: personal use, public use, cultivation and supply each follow their own provisions.^[1][4] The Moldova profile separates those offences and records the verified penalties.^[1]