The Supreme Court proposed to reduce the sentences for drug possession.

      The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation has submitted a bill to the State Duma that mitigates punishment for non-violent drug offenses. This primarily concerns those who possess or acquire drugs without the intent to sell them — for personal use.

      What is being proposed:

      To reduce maximum sentences. For part 2 of article 228 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (large size) — from 10 to 5 years of imprisonment. For part 3 (especially large) — from 15 to 10 years.

      To remove lower limits. Currently, for part 2, the lower limit is 3 years, and for part 3 — 10 years. The authors of the bill propose to impose sentences without specifying a lower threshold.

      To extend the deferral for treatment under article 82.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation to first-time offenders under part 2 of article 228 (currently it only applies to part 1).

      To change the rules for counting time served in the sentence, excluding references to parts 2 and 3 of article 228 from article 72 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

      In the explanatory note, the Supreme Court refers to statistics: in 2024, only a third of those convicted under part 2 of article 228 received actual imprisonment (6,245 out of 18,864). Maximum sentences (over 8 years) were given to only 9 people. Under part 3 of article 228, out of 85 convicted, only 8 received more than 10 years. The authors conclude that the existing sanctions are excessive and not demanded by practice.

      Government Position

      In the official response dated April 20, 2026, the government did not reject the bill. The government supported the changes regarding treatment, counting time served, and the possibility of imposing sentences without isolation.

      But with one condition: by the second reading, amendments to parts two and three of article 228 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation must be excluded from the document — that is, those that reduce sentences and remove lower limits.

      The government argues this: reducing sanctions does not correspond to the degree of public danger of actions in large and especially large sizes. Furthermore, retroactive effect of the law could lead to the revision of sentences and the release of a significant number of convicts.

      What’s next?

      The bill has not been formally rejected and may be adopted in the first reading. The final decision rests with the State Duma. Whether the lower house will meet the government's condition to exclude amendments to parts two and three of article 228 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is currently unknown. If these provisions are excluded by the second reading, the document will retain only procedural and rehabilitative norms. If not — the bill may be adopted in its original form, but this would mean a divergence from the government's position.