From what amount does criminal liability for marijuana possession begin?

For marijuana, criminal liability starts at 2.5 grams without intent to distribute. If intent to distribute is proven, there is no minimum threshold.

Are there narcotics not explicitly listed in the law?

The list of narcotics is no longer limited to specifically named substances — analogues and structurally similar substances are also punishable.

How long can drug traces be detected in hair and urine samples?

Urine tests detect drug use within recent days or weeks: cocaine/heroin up to 3–4 days, marijuana up to 30 days. Hair samples can show drug traces for up to 90 days or longer, depending on drug type and hair length – the longer the hair, the further back traces can be detected.

Criminal Defense for Drug Crime in Armenia

Facing suspicion or charges in a drug-related criminal case is a challenging experience. Such cases carry not only the risk of imprisonment but also the potential loss of your reputation and good name. However, even the most serious accusation can have weaknesses – especially when handled by an experienced defense attorney.

Main Types of Drug Offenses

Illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs for distribution (Criminal Code Art. 393)

Illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs without the purpose of distribution (Art. 396)

Illegal circulation of precursors for the manufacture of narcotic drugs, psychotropic (psychoactive) substances, their preparations or analogues, including for the purpose of distribution, or their unlawful sale (Art. 394)

Drug smuggling (Art. 399)

Coercing or involving others in the use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances (Art. 402)

Sowing or cultivating prohibited plants containing narcotic drugs, psychotropic, highly potent, or toxic substances (Art. 404)

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Defense Strategies from MB Legal's Attorneys

In drug-related cases, defense often centers on disputing the admissibility of the evidence. Our main approaches include:

Illegal search or inspection
Police frequently discover narcotics during unlawful searches of vehicles. If a search is conducted without a proper court order or with procedural violations, we can petition to have such evidence declared inadmissible.
Unlawful arrest or coerced testimony
In some cases, the grounds for arrest are formulated only after the arrest has already been carried out. For example, a person is detained, subjected to a personal search during which narcotics are found, and the arrest justification is retroactively stated as “traces of a crime found,” even though none existed at the time of arrest. This may form the basis for excluding the evidence.
Disputing the quantity of narcotics
Sometimes even a difference of 0.01 grams can affect the classification of the offense. While there are established methodologies for determining drug quantities, expert errors can occur, affecting both the type and quantity classification.
Example: Cannabis is defined as whole or partial plants with the central stem, or all leafy parts without the top segments. However, if plant material dries or crumbles during storage or transportation, an expert may misclassify it as “marijuana”, which carries criminal liability starting from 2.5 grams instead of 500 grams.
Challenging ownership of narcotics
If there is no irrefutable evidence that the narcotics belonged to the defendant, or if the police handled them without gloves, we may request fingerprint or DNA examinations to break the evidentiary link.
Entrapment and provocation
There are cases where law enforcement, including undercover agents, provoke the commission of a drug-related offense to “uncover” it. The European Court of Human Rights has held that while police may monitor or participate in ongoing crimes, they must never initiate or incite them. Our lawyers use European justice standards to challenge such entrapment and seek exclusion of any evidence obtained as a result.

Why Choose Our Lawyers?

By working with us, you receive genuine legal protection free of any moral judgment. Our sole objective is to defend your rights using all means permitted by law.

Our criminal defense team is led by Attorney Artashes Hovhannisyan, a former investigator with the National Security Service of Armenia specializing in illegal drug trafficking cases. He has undergone advanced training programs organized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). His experience and expertise will help you anticipate and mitigate case risks at the earliest stage.

FAQs

1. From what amount does criminal liability for marijuana possession begin?
For marijuana, criminal liability starts at 2.5 grams without intent to distribute. If intent to distribute is proven, there is no minimum threshold.
2. Are there narcotics not explicitly listed in the law?
The list of narcotics is no longer limited to specifically named substances — analogues and structurally similar substances are also punishable.
3. How long can drug traces be detected in hair and urine samples?
- Urine tests detect drug use within recent days or weeks: cocaine/heroin up to 3–4 days, marijuana up to 30 days.
- Hair samples can show drug traces for up to 90 days or longer, depending on drug type and hair length – the longer the hair, the further back traces can be detected.

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Criminal Defense for Drug Crime in Armenia

Main Types of Drug Offenses

MB Legal is featured on

Were you or a loved one called in for questioning, detained, or charged in a drug-related case?

Defense Strategies from MB Legal's Attorneys

Illegal search or inspection

Unlawful arrest or coerced testimony

Disputing the quantity of narcotics

Challenging ownership of narcotics

Entrapment and provocation

Why Choose Our Lawyers?

FAQs

1. From what amount does criminal liability for marijuana possession begin?

2. Are there narcotics not explicitly listed in the law?

3. How long can drug traces be detected in hair and urine samples?

Our Services

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