Parliament okays more lenient punishments for drug users

Drug users will get a second chance, as parliament approved an amendment to the criminal code on Wednesday that makes changes to the punitive regime for drug-related crimes. The upshot is that first-time offenders who are not dealers should escape jail and get probation instead if the sentence is less than three years rather than the current four years. More lenient legislation came under criticism from opposition MPs, particularly Christian Democrats and the ethnic Most-Hid party.