Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Section 25.

Schedule 4 U.K. Prosecution and Punishment of Offences

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	[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.	[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.	[F3 3 months or £500, or both].
		(b) On indictment	[F4 Life] or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.	5 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	[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.	[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.	[F3 3 months or £500, or both].
		(b) On indictment	[F4 Life] or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.	5 years or a fine, or both.
Section 5(2)	Having possession of a controlled drug.	(a) Summary	[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.	[F5 3 months or £500, or both].	[F5 3 months or £200, 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	[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.	[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.	[F6 3 months or £500, or both].
		(b) On indictment	[F7 Life] or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.	5 years or a fine, or both.
Section 6(2)	Cultivation of cannabis plant.	(a) Summary				[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 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	[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.	[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.	[F8 3 months or £500, or both].
		(b) On indictment	14 years or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.	5 years or a fine, or both.
Section 9	Offences relating to opium.	(a) Summary				[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.
		On indictment				14 years or a fine, or both.
[F9 Section 9A.]	[F9 Prohibition of supply etc. of articles for administering or preparing comtrolled drugs.]	[F9 Summary]				[F9 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 [F2 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	[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.	[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.	[F10 3 months or £500, or both].
		(b) On indictment	14 years or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.	5 years or a fine, or both.
Section 13(3)	Contravention of direction prohibiting practitioner etc. from prescribing, supplying etc. controlled drugs.	(a) Summary	[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.	[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 the prescribed sum], or both.	[F10 3 months or £500, or both].
		(b) On indictment	14 years or a fine, or both.	14 years or a fine, or both.	5 years or a fine, or both.
Section 17(3)	Failure to comply with notice requiring information relating to prescribing, supply etc. of drugs.	Summary				[F11 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 [F2 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 [F2 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 [F2 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 [F2 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 [F2 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				[F1 12 months][F1 6 months] or [F2 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 [F2 the prescribed sum], or both
		(b) On indictment				2 years or a fine, or both.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words “6 months” substituted (N.I.) for “12 months” by S.I. 1984/703, (N.I. 3), art. 4, Sch. 1 para. 1(c)

F2 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)

F3 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 (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), art. 4, Sch. 1 para. 1(c), 2 (b)(i)(ii)

F4 Word substituted by Controlled Drugs (Penalties) Act 1985 (c. 39, SIF 84), ss. 1(1), 2(2)

F5 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 (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), art. 4, Sch. 1 para. 1(b)(i)

F6 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 (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), Sch. 1 para. 1(a), 2(b)(iii)

F7 Word substituted by Controlled Drugs (Penalties) Act 1985 (c. 39, SIF 84), ss. 1(1), 2(2)

F8 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 (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), art. 4, Sch. 1 para. 1(a), 2(b)(iv)

F9 Entry inserted by Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 (c. 32, SIF 39:1), s. 34(2)

F10 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 (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), art. 4, Sch. 1 para. 1(a), 2(b)(v)(vi)

F11 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 (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6