The 1971 Act (amended through the Criminal justice 2003 Act, which came into effect in 2004) divides drugs into three classes depending on the degree of harm deemed attributable to each drug. In turn the maximum penalties for being convicted of an offence under the Act are fixed according to the class of drug.
The drugs which are deemed most harmful are in class A and those deemed least harmful
are in class C. Within each class, penalties are highest for trafficking offences and lower
for possession.
Maximum penalties
Offence |
Type of trial |
Class of Drugs |
|
A |
B1 |
C |
Possession |
Summary2 |
6 months and/or up to £5,000 fine |
3 months and/ or up to £500 fine |
3 months and/ or up to £200 fine |
Possession |
Indictment3 |
7 years and/or
unlimited fine |
5 years and/or
unlimited fine |
2 years and/or
unlimited fine |
Trafficking4 |
Summary2 |
6 months and/or
up to £5,000 fine |
6 months and/or
up to £5,000 fine |
3 months and/or
up to £500 fine |
Trafficking |
Indictment3 |
Life and/or unlimited fine |
14 years and/or
unlimited fine |
14 years and/or
unlimited fine |
- Any class B drug in injectable form is treated as a class A drug.
- Tried before a Magistrates court.
- Tried before a Crown court.
- Includes supply, offer to supply, production, import and export. The same penalties apply to allowing premises to be used for supply. Unauthorised import or export is prohibited by the Misuse of Drugs Act but is an offence under the Customs and Excise Management Act, so fines on summary conviction
can reach three times the value of the goods seized.
Selected list of controlled drugs
Drugs are listed in alphabetical order of their non-proprietary name. Common trade
(or proprietary) names of those marketed for medical use in the United Kingdom are given
in brackets.
Drug |
Schedule 1986 Regulations |
Class (1971 Act amended through the Criminal justice 2003 Act) |
Amphetamine |
2 |
B |
Amylobarbitone (Amytal) |
3 |
B |
Barbiturates |
3 |
B |
Benzodiazepines |
4 |
C |
Butobarbitone (Soneryl) |
3 |
B |
Cannabis and cannabis resin |
1 |
B |
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) |
4 |
C |
Cocaine |
2&5 |
A |
Codeine (Actifed, Phensedyl) |
2&5 |
B |
Dexamphetamine (Dexedrine) |
2 |
B |
Dextromoramide (Palfium) |
2 |
A |
Dextropropoxyphene (Distalgesic) |
2&5 |
C |
Diazepam (Valium) |
4 |
C |
Diethylpropion (Tenuate) |
3 |
C |
Dihydrocodeine (DF 118) |
2&5 |
B |
Dipipanone (Diconal) |
2 |
A |
Fentanyl |
2 |
A |
Flurazepam (Dalmane) |
4 |
C |
Glutethimide |
2 |
B |
Heroin |
2 |
A |
Levomethorphan |
2 |
A |
Levomoramide |
2 |
A |
Lorazepam (Ativan) |
4 |
C |
LSD, lysergamide |
1 |
A |
Meprobamate (Equanil) |
3 |
C |
Methadone (Physeptone) |
2 |
A |
Methaqualone |
2 |
B |
Methylamphetamine |
2 |
B |
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy) |
1 |
A |
Methylphenidate (Ritalin) |
2 |
B |
Morphine |
2&5 |
A |
Nitrazepam (Mogadon) |
4 |
C |
Opium, medicinal |
2&5 |
A |
Opium, raw |
1 |
A |
Oxazepam (Serenid) |
4 |
C |
Pentazocine (Fortral) |
3 |
B |
Pentobarbitone (Nembutal) |
3 |
B |
Pethidine (Pamergan) |
2 |
A |
Phenmetrazine |
2 |
B |
Phentermine |
3 |
C |
Psilocin and related compounds, found in Liberty Cap mushrooms |
1 |
A |
Quinalbarbitone (Seconal) |
2 |
B |
Temazepam (Euhypnos) |
3 |
C |
Triazolam (Halcion) |
4 |
C |
Maximum penalties under the law:
Possession |
2 years in jail and/or an unlimited fine |
Supplying/dealing: |
14 years in jail and/or an unlimited fine |
Possession with intent to supply: |
14 years in jail and/or an unlimited fine |
back to the top of page
Related topics
Drug Tests |
