Last summer The Constitutional Court of Georgia concluded that the use of marijuana is protected by the constitutional right to free development of one's personality as guaranteed by Article 16 of the Constitution of Georgia. Similar arguments are found in other jurisdictions.
The seminar will discuss arguments for and against criminalization of use and possession of drugs in the light of the above-mentioned decision. Further the seminar will address what distinguishes Georgian constitutional norms from Norwegian constitutional norms.
The decision from 30 July 2018 can be read here (link).
Read a summary on the decision here (link).
Agenda
10:00 - 10:15 Opening remarks
Mr. Giorgi Giorgadze, President, The Georgian-Norwegian Rule of Law Association
Mr. Anders Løvlie, Associate Professor, Department of Public and International Law, University of Oslo, Board member, The Georgian-Norwegian Rule of Law Association
10:15 - 11:15 Regulation of Drug Consumption
Mr. Teimuraz Antelava, Legal Advisor, Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation:
An Introduction to the Legality of Self-Harm: Sketching the Histories of Decoupling Alcohol and Tobacco from Drugs
Mr. Alf Butenschøn Skre, Lawyer and secretary for the Norwegian Commission on reform of drug regulation:
Norwegian Drug Policy
Mr. Giorgi Chitidze, Human Rights Program Manager, Open Society Georgia Foundation:
Georgian Drug Policy: 2006-2019
Moderator:
Ms. Ingvild Bruce, Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Public and International Law, University of Oslo
11:30 - 12:15 The Outlook of Reform
Mr. Hans Fredrik Marthinussen, Professor, PhD, Faculty of Law, University of Bergen:
Decriminalization of Drug Use - The Outlook for Reform in Norway
Ms. Sopho Verdzeuli, Institutional Reforms Support Program Director, NGO-Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC):
Draft Law on liberalizing Georgian Drug Policy. Involved Parties and the Role of CSO in the process
Moderator:
Ms. Nino Aglemashvili, Head of Jury Trial Unit, General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia, Board member, The Georgian-Norwegian Rule of Law Association
12:15 - 13:30 Lunch Break
13:30 - 13:50 The Liberalization of Drug Policy and the Role of the Constitutional Court of Georgia
Mr. Nika Pirvelashvili, Student, Tbilisi State University, winner of the Competition of law articles for law students dedicated to the memory of Giorgi Margiani
13:50 - 15:00 Constitutional Perspectives
Mr. Eivind Smith, Professor, Department of Public and International Law, University of Oslo:
A Norwegian perspective on decisions of The Constitutions Court of Georgia
Mr. Konstantine Vardzelashvili, Professor, Law School, Ilia State University:
Deliberating on Constitutionality of Drug Crime and Punishment: In a Search for Limits of Government's Discretionary Powers and Authority of the Constitutional Court
Mr. Vakhushti Menabde, Associate Professor, Ilia State University:
Decisions of the Constitutional Court of Georgia in Relation with Consumption of Marijuana: Philosophy and Future Perspectives
Moderator:
Mrs. Synnøve Ugelvik, Associate Professor, Department of Public and International Law, University of Oslo
15:00 - 15:30 Wrap up and concluding remarks
20:00 Reception and conference dinner hosted by the Georgian-Norwegian Rule of Law Association.