Kazakhstan rejects soft drug legalization, while Kyrgyzstan embraces it

Kazakhstan has no intention of legalizing soft drugs, unlike neighboring Kyrgyzstan. The country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs remains focused on combating drug-related crimes and will not reconsider its position on marijuana, according to Sanzhar Adilov, deputy minister of internal affairs.

During a briefing at the Senate, the upper house of Kazakhstan’s parliament, journalists asked Adilov if the ministry might reconsider its stance on drug policy following Kyrgyzstan’s recent legalization of soft drugs and Kazakhstan’s easing of penalties for drug-related offenses. Adilov firmly asserted that this issue is not currently under consideration.

«We are not exploring changes related to drug classifications, reducing penalties or altering their legal status,» Adilov said. «The legalization of marijuana, as is the case in Kyrgyzstan, is not on our agenda.»

Adilov noted that Kazakhstan is focused on studying global strategies to prevent and combat drug-related crimes, rather than considering their legalization.

«We are focusing on international practices related to criminal liability and identifying the root causes and conditions that contribute to these crimes. Our primary goal is to involve more non-governmental organizations, local executive bodies and civic activists in combating this scourge. By studying the experiences of other countries, we aim to bolster preventive measures,» he explained.

In 2023, Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov reaffirmed that legalizing marijuana in Kazakhstan is “impossible” because it goes against World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and contradicts the ministry’s position.