NCJ Number
112509
Date Published
1986
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The Misuse of Drugs Act aims to prevent the unauthorized use of drugs likely to be abused and the misuse of which is likely to have harmful effects sufficient to constitute a social problem in the United Kingdom.
Abstract
The Act prohibits possession, possession with intent to supply, production/cultivation, offer to supply or supply, import or export, and use of premises to supply or offer to supply the drugs it controls. The Act also permits exemptions to meet medical and scientific needs. The regulations of the Act divide controlled drugs into five schedules. Drugs in Schedule 1 are the most stringently controlled and include such drugs as lysergic acid diethylamide and cannabis. Schedules 2, 3, and 4 include the vast majority of controlled drugs that are available for medical use such as tranquilizers. Schedule 5 contains those drugs considered to pose minimal risk of abuse such as cough medicines and mild painkillers. Drugs also are divided into classes according to the maximum penalties for drugs within the class. Class A drugs carry the highest sanctions, Class C drugs the lowest. Within each class, penalties are highest for trafficking offenses and less high for possession. While maximum penalties are severe, they can only be imposed by a judge in a Crown court, whereas contested cases are tried by jury. Penalties range from 3 months and a 200 pound sterling fine for possession of Class C drugs to life and unlimited fine for Class A trafficking. Other laws relating to drug misuse in Britain are listed. 4 references and 4 tables.