• Science • People
Non User
 • Locations • Timeline
Index: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Home > Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

 

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is the Act of Parliament that controls narcotics possession, use and trafficking in the United Kingdom.

The Act creates three classes of "controlled substances", with different ranges of penalties for each. "Possession" and "possession with intent to supply" are graded differently within each class. The lists of substances within each class can be amended "by order", so the Home Secretary can list new drugs and upgrade, downgrade or delist previously-controlled drugs with less of the bureaucracy and delay associated with passing an Act through both Houses of Parliament.

1 History of drugs policy in the UK

Before 1971, the UK had a relatively liberal drugs policy and it was not until US influence had been brought to bear — particularly in United Nations circles — that all drugs use was criminalised. Before the passage of the Act, it was possible for heroin addicts to be prescribed enough of the drug to manage their addiction without being forced to buy from the black market, for example.

Supporters of the newer drugs policy tend to believe that criminalising both drugs use and possession is the best way to handle the social problems caused by drugs, whereas opponents tend to suggest that criminalising users and dealers alike is counterproductive and detrimental to the health of users.

This section is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by [ ṣlocalurl: : |action=edit}} expanding it].

2 Class A drugs



Read more »

Topics: Misuse Of Drugs Act 1971, History Of Drugs Policy In The UK...

19711971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). Events January January 1 British divorce Reform Act comes into force January 2 66 die in stairway crush at Rangers v Celtic football match, Glasgow, Scotland. See Ibrox disaster. Janua1971 in musicSee also 1970 in music, other events of 1971, 1972 in music, 1970s in music and the list of 'years in music' Events February 8 Bob Dylan's hour long documentary film, Eat the Document premieres at New York's Academy of Music. The film includes footage fro1971 in televisionSee also 1970 in television, other events of 1971, 1972 in television and the list of 'years in television'. Events January 3 BBC Open University broadcasts begin in the UK. June 6 The Ed Sullivan Show goes off the air. September 7 The last episode of The
1971 in filmSee also 1970 in film 1971 1972 in film 1970s in film years in film film Events February 8 Bob Dylan's hour long documentary film, Eat the Document premieres at New York's Academy of Music. The film includes footage from Dylan's 1966 UK tour The first per1971 in sportsSee also 1970 in sports, other events of 1971, 1972 in sports and the list of 'years in sports'. Auto Racing Stock car racing: Richard Petty won the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship Richard Petty Indianapolis 500 Al Unser, Sr. USAC Racing Joe Leonard Formu1971 in literatureSee also 1970 in literature, other events of 1971, 1972 in literature, list of years in literature. Events The Destiny Waltz by Gerda Charles wins England's first Whitbread Novel of the Year Award. Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner is published. New Book
1971 Governor General's Awards1971 in Canada1971 in India
1971 in gay rights1971 in video gaming1971 in aviation
1971 in architecture1971 in science1971 Atlantic hurricane season
Non User