Chapter
19
Chapter 2: UK drug laws
ISSUES
: Drugs
UK drug laws
2
Drugs and the law
Each illegal drug is put into a different ‘class’. The law on drugs is complex. But if you’re
caught with an illegal substance, ignorance won’t wash with the police. Here’s what you
need to know.
I
llegal drugs are divided into
different ‘classes’ by the
Misuse of Drugs Act. If you’re
caught with drugs, the punishment
you’ll get depends on what
class the drug is. You’ll also face
different punishments depending
on whether you were just in
possession of it, or if you intended
to supply it to others.
What different classes of
drugs are there?
Class A
Ö
Ö
Cocaine,
crack,
crystal
meth, ecstasy, heroin, LSD
(acid), magic mushrooms,
mephadone and any class B
drug prepared for injection.
Ö
Ö
Maximum penalties: seven
years in prison and/or a fine for
possession, life imprisonment
and/or a fine for possession
with intent to supply.
Class B
Ö
Ö
Amphetamines
(speed),
cannabis, codeine.
Ö
Ö
Maximum penalties: five years
in prison and/or a fine for
possession, 14 years in prison
and/or a fine for possession
with intent to supply.
Class C
Ö
Ö
Ketamine, some tranquillisers
like Temazepam, the supply of
anabolic steroids.
Ö
Ö
Maximum penalties: two years
in prison and/or a fine for
possession, 14 years prison
and/or a fine for possession
with intent to supply.
These penalties are given in aCrown
Court. In a Magistrates Court,
where less serious offences are
dealt with, the maximum sentence
is six months imprisonment and a
£5,000 fine. The actual sentence
you’re likely to get will also depend
on:
Ö
Ö
The drug involved;
Ö
Ö
Any previous criminal record;
Ö
Ö
Your personal circumstances
(i.e. being a single parent);
Ö
Ö
The attitude of the presiding
magistrate/judge.
Some other drugs are controlled
by the Medicines Act. It may not
be illegal to possess drugs such as
prescription medicines, but supply
is still an offence.
Other drug laws
Most drugs are covered by the
Misuse of Drugs Act. These ones
aren’t:
Ö
Ö
Alcohol:
There are lots of laws
about alcohol, covering where
it can be sold, who to and
where you can drink it.
Ö
Ö
Solvents:
It is not illegal to
use, but a shopkeeper can be
prosecuted for selling a solvent
to under-18s who they know
will use it for sniffing.
Ö
Ö
Cigarettes:
It is illegal for a
shopkeeper to knowingly sell
to under-18s;
Ö
Ö
Amyl nitrates (poppers):
Amyl
nitrate is a prescription-only
medicine. Possession is not an
offence, but supply is restricted
by the Medicines Act. Butyl
and Isobutyl nitrate are not
restricted in any way. The stuff
available from jokes and sex
shops is usually butyl or isobutyl
nitrate. If any amyl nitrate is
present, however, then supply is
restricted. Use is not.
From some time in 2016, the
Psychoactive Substances Act will
come into force. This act will not
replace the Misuse of Drugs Act
(1971), but it will make it an offence
to produce or supply legal highs.
It won’t be an offence to possess
them.
The above information is reprinted
with kind permission from The Mix –
Essential support for under 25s (www.
themixuk.org).
TheMixUK.org is the guide to life for
under 25-year-olds in the UK. We
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