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UK Act of Parliament
1971
United Kingdom
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
20 compliance obligations, 10 practical guides across 3 topics · 3 journeys
Penalty landscape
5 of 20 obligations carry imprisonment (14 years). 12 carry different penalties and 3 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 14
- Occupier 2
- Director or Officer 1
Plus 3 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Healthcare compliance quick check
- 1 step
Respond to a medicines or controlled drugs incident
- 1 step
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesSupporting — topic alignment
9 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 742 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 83 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 82 duties
- Road Traffic (NI) Order 1995 1995 61 duties
Occupiers also bound by 100 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 2006 15 duties
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England/Wales comparison) 2005 14 duties
- Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 2015 13 duties
- Highways Act 1980 1980 12 duties
- Housing Act 1985 1985 11 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 221 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 73 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 57 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 44 duties
- CCBSA 2014 2014 21 duties
- Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 2023 18 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Browse 40 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Constitution etc. of Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
Controlled Drugs
Tribunals, Advisory Bodies and Professional Panels
Repeals.
(1) The members of the Advisory Council, of whom there...
The Advisory Council may appoint committees, which may consist in...
At meetings of the Advisory Council the quorum shall be...
The Secretary of State may pay to the members of...
Any expenses incurred by the Advisory Council with the approval...
Any ester or ether of cannabinol or of a cannabinol...
Any preparation or other product containing a substance or product...
Any preparation designed for administration by injection which includes a...
(1) A tribunal shall consist of five persons of whom—...
If a tribunal recommends to the Secretary of State that...
Any expenses incurred by a tribunal with the approval of...
The Secretary of State shall make available to a tribunal...
(1) An advisory body shall consist of three persons of...
The respondent shall be entitled to appear before and be...
Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Schedule,...
Paragraphs 3, 7, 8 and 10 to 12 of this...
A professional panel shall consist of a chairman and two...
The respondent shall be entitled to appear before, and be...
Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Schedule,...
The quorum of a tribunal shall be the chairman and...
Paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 of this Schedule shall apply...
In the application of Parts I to III of this...
Proceedings before a tribunal shall be held in private unless...
(1) Subject to paragraph 5 below, the Lord Chancellor may...
(1) For the purpose of any proceedings before a tribunal...
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Schedule, a tribunal...
The validity of the proceedings of a tribunal shall not...
The Secretary of State may pay to any member of...
The Secretary of State may pay to any person who...
(1) Any addiction regulations which could have been made under...
As from the coming into operation of section 3 of...
(1) The Secretary of State may at any time before...
Subject to paragraphs 1 to 3 above, and without prejudice...
For purposes of the enforcement of the enactments repealed by...
The mention of particular matters in this Schedule shall not...
For the purposes of this Schedule the following expressions (which...
Orders under section 2A: role of Advisory Council etc
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must consult before placing drugs under temporary control Crown / Minister / Government department
Restriction of production and supply of controlled drugs.
Life imprisonment- Produce or supply controlled drugs without authorisation Any Person
Restriction of possession of controlled drugs.
Life imprisonment- Unlawful possession or intent to supply controlled drugs Any Person
Occupiers etc. of premises to be punishable for permitting certain activities to take place there.
14 years imprisonment- Permitting illegal drug activity on business premises Occupier
Prohibition of certain activities etc. relating to opium.
14 years imprisonment- Possess or allow use of opium-related smoking equipment Any Person
Prohibition of supply etc. of articles for administering or preparing controlled drugs.
6 months imprisonment- Supply articles used for preparing or taking illegal drugs Any Person
Power to direct special precautions for safe custody of controlled drugs to be taken at certain premises.
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with drug security and storage directions Occupier
Directions prohibiting prescribing, supply etc. of controlled drugs by practitioners etc. convicted of certain offences.
2 years imprisonment- Contravene a direction prohibiting prescribing or supply of controlled drugs Any Person
Directions prohibiting prescribing, supply etc. of controlled drugs by practitioners in other cases.
14 years imprisonment- Breach a direction prohibiting the handling of controlled drugs Any Person
Investigation where grounds for a direction under s. 13 are considered to exist.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must notify practitioners of drug investigation outcomes Crown / Minister / Government department
Temporary directions under s. 13(2).
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State may issue temporary bans on prescribing controlled drugs Crown / Minister / Government department
Power to obtain information from doctors, pharmacists etc. in certain circumstances.
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with information request under Misuse of Drugs Act Any Person
Miscellaneous offences.
2 years imprisonment- Breach drug regulations, licence conditions or give false information Any Person
Attempts etc. to commit offences.
Life imprisonment- Attempt or incite a drug-related offence Any Person
Assisting in or inducing commission outside United Kingdom of offence punishable under a corresponding law.
14 years imprisonment- Assist or induce a drug-related offence outside the UK Any Person
Offences by corporations.
14 years imprisonment- Personal liability for company drug offences Director or Officer
Powers to search and obtain evidence.
2 years imprisonment- Obstructing search powers or failing to produce drug records Any Person
Temporary class drugs: further power to search, seize and detain
2 years imprisonment- Obstruct a search for temporary class drugs Any Person
Prosecution and punishment of offences.
Life imprisonment imprisonment- Violate drug control regulations (Class A, B, C, or temporary) Any Person
Forfeiture.
Unlimited fine- Forfeiture of assets and equipment following drug-related offences Any Person
Browse 26 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
Controlled drugs and their classification for purposes of this Act.
Temporary class drug orders
Restriction of importation and exportation of controlled drugs.
Aggravation of offence of supply of controlled drug
Restriction of cultivation of cannabis plant.
Authorisation of activities otherwise unlawful under foregoing provisions.
Temporary class drug orders: power to make further provision
Power to make regulations for preventing misuse of controlled drugs.
Provisions supplementary to ss. 14 and 15.
Further powers to make regulations.
Power of arrest
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Proof of lack of knowledge etc. to be a defence in proceedings for certain offences.
Service of documents.
Licences and authorities.
General provisions as to regulations.
Research.
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Financial provisions.
Meaning of “corresponding law”, and evidence of certain matters by certificate.
Interpretation.
Special provisions as to Northern Ireland.
Savings and transitional provisions, repeals, and power to amend local enactments.
Short title, extent and commencement.
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- MHRA — medicines and healthcare products regulation (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- General Optical Council (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- CQC — register as a new provider (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Natural Resources Wales / Regulatory statement 094: Denaturing of controlled drugs at a place other than the production premises (opens in a new tab) from NRW Detailed Guidance
- Prescribing without access to patient records - GMC (opens in a new tab) from GMC Detailed Guidance
- Storing medicines in care homes - Care Quality Commission (opens in a new tab) from CQC Detailed Guidance
- PIR guidance: Quality assurance and risk management - Care Quality Commission (opens in a new tab) from CQC Detailed Guidance
- Controlled drugs in home care - Care Quality Commission (opens in a new tab) from CQC Detailed Guidance
- Controlled drugs in care homes - Care Quality Commission (opens in a new tab) from CQC Detailed Guidance
- Home Office — controlled drugs: licences, fees and returns (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- ... and 2 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
MHRA
PrimaryMedicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Regulates medicines, medical devices, and blood components. Ensures safety, quality, and efficacy. Issues marketing authorisations.
Government department responsible for immigration, security, and law and order. Administers UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), issues sponsor licences for employers hiring …
Police Forces
Enforce criminal law including licensing conditions (e.g. alcohol, entertainment), knife sales restrictions, and age-restricted product sales. Work with trading standards on enforcement …
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Browse legislation
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Regulators
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