Everybody needs to be clear about the Law and Drugs, young people should realise the consequences of illegal drug activity.
The Police have the powers to stop, detain and search any person on “reasonable suspicion that they are in possession of a controlled drug”. They can take a person to the police station and conduct the search. The two possible charges are “possession” and “possession with the intent to supply”.
It is also possible that a person may receive a warning or a caution. A formal warning means that a record is kept on local police files and can influence the response to a second offence. A formal caution means a record will be kept on central police files. This can be brought into any future court appearances or disclosed to any future employers.
This Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is the most relevant legislation at present. Offences under this Act include unlawful possession and trafficking. Trafficking means possession with the intent to supply, importing or exporting.
Drugs are divided into three categories according to how harmful they are regarded.
Class A drugs are seen as the most harmful and carry the highest penalties; these are followed by Class B drugs and finally Class C drugs.
It should be noted that it is not illegal to possess Class C drugs providing they are in medicinal form. If they are in a non-medicinal form, for example, drugs stolen from a factory before being manufactured into tablet form – possession is illegal and carries a maximum two years imprisonment or fine.
Examples of the classification of drugs are:
Class A
Magic mushrooms
LSD
Ecstasy
Cocaine
Heroin
Class B
Amphetamine
Herbal Cannabis
Cannabis Resin
Cannabis Oil
Barbiturates
(Note –any Class B drug becomes classified as a Class A drug when it is injected)
Class C
Benzodiazepine
Tranquillisers
Penalties
The Law gives out different penalties depending on what the situation is, for example, age, is it a first offence, do you intend to supply, what classification of drugs were in your possession.
Here is a table illustrating the maximum penalties for possession and intention to supply drugs:
Class A
Possession - 7 years imprisonment, a fine or possibly both
Supply - Life imprisonment, a fine or possibly both
Class B
Possession - 5 years imprisonment, a fine or possibly both
Supply - 14 years imprisonment, a fine or possibly both
Class C
Possession - 2 years imprisonment, a fine or possibly both
Supply - 14 years imprisonment, a fine or possibly both
Issues, which you may not have considered:
If you pass drugs over to your friend and no money has exchanged, it is still classed a supplying (dealing)
Allowing other people to use drugs in your home or premises is illegal
A drugs conviction can lead to complications with insurance policies, e.g. life, holiday or car and can even discredit or in particular circumstances invalidate existing policies
A drug conviction can lead to refusal of work permits or visas if you travel to other countries.
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