http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/38/schedule/4Misuse of Drugs Act 1971An Act to make new provision with respect to dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs and related matters, and for purposes connected therewith.1979-01-31texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2025-01-18Expert Participation2025-01-15 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971s. 5(4A)-(4C)Drugs Act 2005s. 2(2)s. 24(3)Misuse of Drugs Act 1971s. 31(2A)Drugs Act 2005s. 2(3)(b)s. 24(3)Misuse of Drugs Act 1971s. 31(4A)Drugs Act 2005s. 2(3)(c)s. 24(3)Misuse of Drugs Act 1971s. 38(1A)Drugs Act 2005s. 2(4)s. 24(3) Schedule 4Section 25.

Section Creation Offence	General Nature of Offence	Mode of Prosecution	Punishment
			Class A drug involved	Class B drug involved	Class C drug involved	General
Section 4(2)	Production, or being concerned in the production, of a controlled drug.	(a) Summary	12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.	12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.	3 months or £2,500, or both.
		(b) On indictment	Life or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.
Section 4(3)	Supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug or being concerned in the doing of either activity by another.	(a) Summary	12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.	12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.	3 months or £2,500, or both.
		(b) On indictment	Life or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.
Section 5(2)	Having possession of a controlled drug.	(a) Summary	12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.	3 months or £2,500, or both.	3 months or £1,000, or both.
		(b) On indictment	7 years or a fine, or both.	5 years or a fine, or both.	2 years or a fine, or both.
Section 5(3)	Having possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply it to another.	(a) Summary	12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.	12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.	3 months or £2,500, or both.
		(b) On indictment	Life or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.
Section 6(2)	Cultivation of cannabis plant.	(a) Summary				12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.
		(b) On indictment				14 years or a fine, or both.
Section 8	Being the occupier, or concerned in the management, of premises and permitting or suffering certain activities to take place there.	(a) Summary	12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.	12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.	3 months or £2,500, or both.
		(b) On indictment	14 years or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.
Section 9	Offences relating to opium.	(a) Summary				12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.
		On indictment				14 years or a fine, or both.
Section 9A.	Prohibition of supply etc. of articles for administering or preparing comtrolled drugs.	Summary				6 months or level 5 on the standard scale, or both.
Section 11(2)	Contravention of directions relating to safe custody of controlled drugs.	(a) summary				6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.
		(b) On indictment				2 years or a fine, or both.
Section 12(6)	Contravention of direction prohibiting practitioner etc. from possessing, supplying etc. controlled drugs.	(a) Summary	12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.	12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.	3 months or £2,500, or both.
		(b) On indictment	14 years or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.
Section 13(3)	Contravention of direction prohibiting practitioner etc. from prescribing, supplying etc. controlled drugs.	(a) Summary	12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.	12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.	3 months or £2,500, or both.
		(b) On indictment	14 years or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.
Section 17(3)	Failure to comply with notice requiring information relating to prescribing, supply etc. of drugs.	Summary				level 3 on the standard scale.
Section 17(4)	Giving false information in purported compliance with notice requiring information relating to prescribing, supply etc. of drugs.	(a) Summary				6 months or the prescribed sum, or both.
		(b) On indictment				2 years or afine, or both.
Section 18(1)	Contravention of regulations (other than regulations relating to addicts).	(a) Summary				6 months or the prescribed sum, or both
		(b) On indictment				2 years or a fine, or both.
Section 18(2)	Contravention of terms of licence or other authority (other than licence issued under regulations relating to addicts).	(a) Summary				6 months or the prescribed sum, or both
		(b) On indictment				2 years or a fine, or both.
Section 18(3)	Giving false information in purported compliance with obligation to give information imposed under or by virtue of regulations.	(a) Summary				6 months or the prescribed sum, or both
		(b) On indictment				2 years or a fine, or both.
Section 18(4)	Giving false information, or producing document etc. containing false statement etc., for purposes of obtaining issue or renewal of a licence or other authority.	(a) Summary				6 months or the prescribed sum, or both
		(b) On indictment				2 years or a fine, or both.
Section 20	Assisting in or inducing commission outside United Kingdom of an offence punishable under a corresponding law.	(a) Summary				12 months 6 months or the prescribed sum, or both
		(b) On indictment				14 years or a fine, or both.
Section 23(4)	Obstructing exercise of powers of search etc. or concealing books, drugs etc.	(a) Summary				6 months or the prescribed sum, or both
		(b) On indictment				2 years or a fine, or both.

Sch. 4: power to amend conferred (N.I.) (3.2.1995) by S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), art. 17(2)(k) (as inserted by 1994 c. 33, s. 157(8); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1)Words in Sch. 4 substituted (N.I.) by S.I. 1984/703, (N.I. 3), art. 4, Sch. 1 para. 1(c)Sch. 4: power to amend column 5 or 6 conferred (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 46, s. 225(5)(d)Words substituted by (E.W.) Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45, SIF 39:1), s. 28, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)(b), (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), Sch. 7B para. 1(1)(b) and (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss.3(1), 6, Sch. 1 para. 11(1)(2) Sch.5 (with s. 6(2), Sch. 6) and (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), art. 4, Sch. 1 para. 1(c), 2 (b)(i)(ii)Sch. 4: Words substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 157(2)(9), Sch. 8 Pt. II; S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1Word substituted by Controlled Drugs (Penalties) Act 1985 (c. 39, SIF 84), ss. 1(1), 2(2)Words substituted by (E.W.) Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45, SIF 39:1), s. 28, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)(c)(i), (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), Sch. 7B para. 1(1)(c)(i) and (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 3(1), 6, Sch. 1 para. 11(1)(2), Sch.5 (with s. 6(2), Sch. 6) and (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), art. 4, Sch. 1 para. 1(b)(i)Words substituted by (E.W.) Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45, SIF 39:1), s. 28, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)(b), (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), Sch. 7B para. 1(1)(b) and (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 3(1), 6, Sch. 1 para. 11(1)(2), Sch.5 (with s. 6(2), Sch. 6) and (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), Sch. 1 para. 1(a), 2(b)(iii)Word in Sch. 4 substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 157(2)(9), Sch. 8 Pt. II; S.I 1995/127, art. 2(1)Word substituted by Controlled Drugs (Penalties) Act 1985 (c. 39, SIF 84), ss. 1(1), 2(2)Words substituted by (E.W.) Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45, SIF 39:1), s. 28, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)(b), (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), Sch. 7B para. 1(1)(b) and (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 3(1), 6, Sch. 1 para. 11(1)(2), Sch.5 (with s. 6(2), Sch. 6) and (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), art. 4, Sch. 1 para. 1(a), 2(b)(iv)Entry inserted by Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 (c. 32, SIF 39:1), s. 34(2)Words substituted by (E.W.) Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45, SIF 39:1), s. 28, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)(b), (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), Sch. 7B para. 1(1)(b) and (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 3(1), 6, Sch. 1 para. 11(1)(2), Sch.5 (with s. 6(2), Sch. 6) and (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), art. 4, Sch. 1 para. 1(a), 2(b)(v)(vi)Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 46, (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), s. 289G and (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 3, 6, Sch. 1 para. 3(1) Sch. 2 Pt.II, Sch.5 (with s. 6(2), Sch. 6) and (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6Words in Sch. 4 substituted (29.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 28 para. 1(1)-(3)(e); S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(k)Words in Sch. 4 substituted (29.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 28 para. 1(1)-(3)(d); S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(k)Words in Sch. 4 substituted (29.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 28 para. 1(1)-(3)(c); S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(k)Words in Sch. 4 substituted (29.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3), (4), Sch. 28 para. 1(1)-(3)(a); S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(k)Words in Sch. 4 substituted (29.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 28 para. 1(1)-(3)(f); S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(k)Words in Sch. 4 substituted (29.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3), (4), Sch. 28 para. 1(1)-(3)(b); S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(k)Sch. 4: the maximum fine which may be imposed on summary conviction shall be the prescribed sum by virtue of Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43), s. 32(2)