YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Healthcare Arsen Torosyan has denied rumors alleging that the government is planning to legalize cannabis use in Armenia.

“There isn’t and there cannot be any initiative on free sale, circulation and use of narcotics….I will personally veto any such kind of initiative as long as I am a Cabinet member, if something like this will cross anyone’s mind,” he said on Facebook. “I am sure our entire government will do the same”.

He also addressed the restrictions on tobacco smoking in public areas.

“No one is banning smoking, despite the fact that it is killing thousands of our citizens yearly, the restrictions will be enforced on usage of tobacco products in indoor public areas in order to prevent this “slaughter””, he said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan