UNAUTHORIZED POSSESSION OF NARCOTIC DRUGS: RESPONSIBILITY AND PUNISHMENT IN CONTEMPORARY CRIMINAL LAW

Abstract

Based on international standards, numerous contemporary criminal legislations, including the positive legislation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (as well as the countries in the region) prescribe several criminal offenses of drug abuse in basic, qualified or privileged forms of manifestation. Among these punishable offenses, within the framework of narco-crime, illegal possession of narcotic drugs for one's own, personal use, and not for the purpose of selling it or placing them on the market in any other way, stand out due to its nature, character, content and elements. This paper discusses the concept and characteristics of this punishable offense in the law of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other countries in the region, as well as in international criminal law.