Russia to tighten license regime for enterprises producing drugs

It is necessary to tighten the license regime for enterprises producing drug-containing substances, since many of these make it to the black market, aggravating the country's drug situation, Viktor Cherkesov, chief of the Russian State Committee against Drug Trafficking, told a RIA Novosti press conference on Thursday.

In accordance with a new Russian law, which comes into force on July 1, the committee will participate in the licensing of enterprises that produce drugs legally, said Cherkesov, adding that the law gave drug control agencies "full operational and procedural powers," including the right to regulate the legal drugs market.

According to the committee's information, about 10% of all crimes registered on the Russian territory are related to drug trafficking.

Commenting on the possibility of legalising marijuana in the country, Cherkesov said it was "inadmissible." "Legalisation of 'soft' drugs may prod the spreading of 'hard' drugs throughout the country," he pointed out.