Hi tedkata,
Thank you for an interesting question.
http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/05_24_04bulgaria.cfm
Opposition to Bulgarian Marijuana Crackdown
May 24, 2004
Bulgarian legislators' plans to amend the country's penal code and
impose harsh penalties for possession of marijuana and other drugs
have met opposition from the public and some members of the country's
media.
Under current Bulgarian law, as in those of many European countries,
people who possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use receive
little or no jail time. In March, Bulgaria's parliament approved
legislation that would make possession of a single dose of marijuana
punishable by a prison sentence of three to fifteen years.
In protest of the proposed law, journalists from the progressive Endo
magazine slipped marijuana into the mailboxes of the 240
parliamentarians. Police detained three Endo staffers.
Michael Harris Cohen, an expatriate writer for the Sofia Echo, pleads
with Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov to veto the penal amendments,
as was done by former President Petar Stoyanov.
"[T]he implementation of archaic and Draconian drug laws," Cohen
writes, "can only end up accelerating the exodus of young people
abroad and/or stuffing our jails to the bursting point."
(Unfortunately, not every journalist in Bulgaria is so enlightened.)
http://www.sofiaecho.com/art.php?id=9417&catid=29&PHPSESSID=66281c8b00efa375b3fe39b34648e0f3
Reading Room - Dutch joint statements - Marlene Smits & Koos Schouten
"Following the recent controversy in the pages of The Sofia Echo about
Bulgaria's new law that will mean that even those caught with only a
single dose of marijuana could be sent to jail, two Dutch-born expat
contributors to The Echo, MARLENE SMITS and KOOS SCHOUTEN, give their
perspectives."
[edit]
"When one starts to tolerate soft drugs, one is also one step closer
to hard drugs. And this means that you have to live in a society where
an 80-year-old grandmother can score heroin quicker than a tab of
aspirin. Nobody should want this. Therefore I am in favour of the new
drug law in Bulgaria as long as the Government gives priority to
putting a dealer behind bars, rather than a 15-year-old kid who just
wanted to be cool."
[edit]
"When one starts to tolerate soft drugs, one is also one step closer
to hard drugs. And this means that you have to live in a society where
an 80-year-old grandmother can score heroin quicker than a tab of
aspirin. Nobody should want this. Therefore I am in favour of the new
drug law in Bulgaria as long as the Government gives priority to
putting a dealer behind bars, rather than a 15-year-old kid who just
wanted to be cool."
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American University in Bulgaria
http://www.aubg.bg/dbtext/text.php?i=62
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy
The possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs as defined by
both Bulgarian and American Law is prohibited at any time on
University property. Employees known to possess, use, or distribute
illegal drugs are liable to public law enforcement sanctions and
University disciplinary action.
The use of alcoholic beverages on University property shall be
planned, requested, and controlled thorough the University Dining
Services or Campus Living. The use of alcoholic beverages in Residence
Halls not controlled through Dining Services or Campus Living will be
considered not in compliance with campus procedures.
=================================================
Bulgaria U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs
http://travel.state.gov/travel/bulgaria.html
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is
subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ
significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the
protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for
breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for
similar offenses. Persons violating Bulgarian law, even unknowingly,
may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession,
use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Bulgaria are strict, and
convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.
Foreigners charged with a crime may be denied permission to depart
Bulgaria. Criminal cases have been known to take years to resolve,
regardless of their outcome.
=================================================
keyword search:
Bulgarian laws possession drugs
Bulgarian drug laws
Best regards,
tlspiegel |
