In Russia, marijuana is illegal for recreational and medical purposes.
Penalties If Caught
The use, possession, sale, cultivation, and transportation of cannabis are illegal under Russian law. Penalties for these offenses can range from a monetary fine to up to 15 years in prison.
In May 2004 the Russian government decriminalized possession of small amount of drugs; for example, possession of a gram of heroin or less became a misdemeanor rather than a criminal offense. This resulted in some 40,000 drug users being released from prison or having their sentences reduced.
But Russia is not the only nation with strict, and sometimes problematic, drug laws. Although marijuana is legalised in 19 American states, there are others such as Mississippi and Louisiana where prisoners are still serving life sentences over small amounts of cannabis.
Marc Hilliard Fogel is an American schoolteacher who was arrested in August 2021 by Russian authorities for trying to enter Russia with 0.6 ounces (17 g) of medical marijuana. In June 2022, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Fogel was arrested at the Sheremetyevo Airport carrying less than 20 grams of cannabis that had been prescribed to him in Pennsylvania for medical purposes. He was sentenced to 14 years in a penal colony.
Smoke Free Places
There is a comprehensive ban on smoking in indoor workplaces, indoor public places, and public transport. The only exception to the ban is for long-distance passenger ships. Sub-national jurisdictions may enact more stringent laws than the national legislation.
"Although in Russia drug use per se is not criminalized as in Georgia, possession without intent to supply in amounts exceeding 0.5 grams for heroin, opium or desomorphine is considered a crime and is punished by incarceration for up to three years27.
Is hash oil legal in the US or Russia? In the US, hash and hash oil — like marijuana — are Schedule 1 drugs. It's still illegal to use and possess hash under federal law, and its legality varies state by state. In Russia, cannabis is illegal.
Alcoholism has been a problem throughout the country's history because drinking is a pervasive, socially acceptable behaviour in Russian society and alcohol has also been a major source of government revenue for centuries. It has repeatedly been targeted as a major national problem, with mixed results.
Coca-Cola continues to remain top seller in Russia despite withdrawal: Report. The report further said that the top-selling Dobry Cola brand, which is produced in Russian factories, continued to be a top seller among cola drinks and belonged to Coca-Cola HBC Russia, accounting for just over one-third of the market.
Drinking in public
Bars and restaurants, despite being public places, are an exception. There, alcohol can be sold and consumed as long as the establishment is open. What is not allowed is drinking on the streets, in parks, etc. Open bottles of alcohol are not allowed, and you can be fined.
Russian drug laws are widely considered draconian and the country imprisons more people per capita for drug crimes compared with the rest of Europe, according to The Moscow Times. Marijuana remains illegal for recreational and medical purposes. "They're a zero-tolerance jurisdiction," Butler said.
Cannabis in Ukraine is illegal, but the country is in process to a legalization of cannabis for medical purposes. In April 2021, some THC- and CBD-containing drugs were approved for medical use (namely Dronabinol and Nabiximols).
It's no wonder Griner went over to Russia, where she made over $1 million per season while playing there—more than quadruple her salary in the WNBA, according to AP.
murder, with certain aggravating circumstances (article 105.2) attempted murder of a judge (article 295) attempted murder of a police officer (article 317) attempted murder of a state official (article 277)
Russia. According to the article 20.20 of the Offences Code of Russia, drinking in a place where it is forbidden by the federal law is punishable with a fine of 500 to 1500 rubles.
The Russian Ministry of Health is responsible for granting marketing authorization, clinical trial applications, and price control over certain medicinal products included in the Russian Essential Medicines List.
Can you smoke in public in Russia? Smoking close to entrances of governmental, health and cultural buildings is forbidden. Smoking inside bars and restaurants also prohibited. You cannot smoke on playgrounds or in parks.
Penalties for being caught in possession of drugs are severe. Smoking and drinking alcoholic drinks in public places is officially banned. Public places include transport, bus stops, underground crossings, cultural, sports and governmental establishments, playgrounds and parks.
Vicky Peláez, a Peruvian national and US citizen, and Mikhail Anatolyevich Vasenkov (Russian: Михаил Анатольевич Васенков, alias Juan Lazaro), a Russian citizen, were arrested at their home in Yonkers, New York. Both admitted being Russian agents.
Russian Lt. Col. Oleg Penkovsky, portrayed by actor Merab Ninidze in the Benjamin Cumberbatch thriller The Courier (2020), is hailed as 'the spy who saved the world', the West's most valuable Cold War double agent, and the man who risked his life to stop a nuclear war between superpowers.