Centerpartiet's party congress in Karlstad decided on Saturday to work towards decriminalizing the presence of narcotics in the body. The proposal came from Centerstudenter and aims to prioritize care over punishment. The party voted against decriminalizing narcotics for personal use.
At Centerpartiet's party congress in Karlstad on November 15, 2025, delegates decided that the party should work to ensure it is not punishable to have traces of narcotics in urine, blood, or saliva. The proposal was presented by Centerstudenter and approved after debate, while a related proposal to decriminalize narcotics for personal use was voted down.
Centerstudenter's chair Rasmus Elfström emphasized the need for a perspective shift in addiction issues. "We must achieve this perspective shift regarding addiction. Addicts should primarily be offered care and support to break free from addiction," he said. Elfström also criticized police resource allocation: "The question is whether this is the right way to prioritize the justice system's resources. These people would probably benefit more from encountering care and support measures."
The debate at the congress was heated and centered on Swedish narcotics legislation. Parts of the party, particularly Centerpartiet's Youth League (CUF) and Centerstudenter, advocate for legalization at various levels, such as cannabis use, to facilitate care-seeking and free up authority resources. The decision makes Centerpartiet the second parliamentary party after Vänsterpartiet to want to decriminalize being under the influence of narcotics.
The congress took place in Karlstad, and the decision reflects a broader discussion within the party on handling addiction through support rather than criminalization.