Armenian parliament speaker backs marijuana legalization, citing global trend

Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan has come out in favour of legalising marijuana in Armenia, arguing that global developments show legalisation as a more effective way to manage its use.

Speaking during an episode of the program Deep TALKS, Simonyan stated that while he personally supports legalisation, he is not leading a legislative effort on the issue because he believes the public is not ready for such a move, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“I’m not initiating the legalisation process because I know I won’t be able to convince people,” he said.

Explaining his position further, Simonyan pointed to the broader international context. “Today, the world is not in a position to fight marijuana effectively, and that is precisely why it is moving toward legalisation — to bring it under control,” he noted.

His remarks come amid ongoing debates in various countries about the decriminalisation and regulation of marijuana, with several governments moving to legalise it in order to reduce illegal trade and increase state oversight. However, in Armenia, the topic remains controversial and politically sensitive.

By Tamilla Hasanova