List of controlled drugs
The sentences quoted in this table are maximum penalties and do not reflect the sentences imposed in the majority of drug offences. For more guidance on this issue, please see our section on sentencing.
If you are caught in possession of a controlled drug, there is national police guidance (England and Wales only) outlining possible out-of-court disposals that may be issued by the police as an alternative to prosecution, as detailed here.
Please note that not all controlled substances are listed in this table. A comprehensive list is available from the Home Office. Trafficking offences refer to all supply offences, including conspiracy or attempt to supply, production offences and offences involving importation and exportation. Consult Release or a solicitor for information on substances not covered in the table.
Amphetamines (including dexamphetamine)
Amphetamines are Class B, Schedule 2 drugs. It is illegal to possess them without a prescription or to supply or produce them without a licence. If prepared for injection, they become Class A substances.
Possession of Class B drugs carries a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry maximum sentences of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
Possession of Class A drugs carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
Anabolic steroids
Anabolic steroids are Class C, Schedule 4(ii) drugs. Possession is lawful as long as the drug is for personal use. Anabolic steroids can also be imported or exported for personal use where the person physically carries out the importation or exportation.
Unauthorised supply or production is an offence and carries a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
Benzodiazepines (including diazepam, flunitrazepam and temazepam)
Benzodiazepines are Class C drugs. Some benzodiazepines belong to Schedule 3 and some belong to Schedule 4(1). Possession without a prescription, or supply or production without a licence, is illegal.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Supply or production carries a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
Buprenorphine (including Subutex)
Buprenorphine is a Class C, Schedule 3 drug. Possession is illegal without a prescription and carries a maximum sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
Illegal supply or production carries a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
BZP (and other piperazines)
Piperazines (including BZP and TFMPP) are Class C, Schedule 1 drugs. It is illegal to possess, supply or prescribe them.
Possession of Class C drugs carries a maximum sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Possession with intent to supply, trafficking offences and production of Class C drugs carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
Cannabis
Cannabis is a Class B, Schedule 1 drug. However, cannabis-based products for medicinal use in humans that meet the legal definition were moved to Schedule 2 in November 2018, allowing them to be prescribed under specific conditions. It is illegal to possess, supply or produce cannabis without lawful authority.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
Cocaine (including crack cocaine)
Cocaine is a Class A, Schedule 2 drug. Possession without a prescription is illegal. It is illegal to supply or produce cocaine.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Supply or production carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
Codeine
Codeine is a Class B, Schedule 2 drug. If prepared for injection, it becomes a Class A substance. It is illegal to possess without a prescription or to supply or produce without a licence.
Illegal possession carries a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
Possession of Class A drugs carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
DMT
DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine) is a Class A, Schedule 1 drug. It is illegal to possess, supply or prescribe.
Possession of Class A drugs carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Possession with intent to supply, trafficking offences and production of Class A drugs carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
Ecstasy
Ecstasy is a Class A, Schedule 1 drug. Possession, supply and production are offences.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
GHB
GHB is a Class B, Schedule 4(1) drug. It is illegal to possess, supply or produce this drug.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
Hallucinogenic mushrooms containing psilocin
Any fungus which contains psilocin is a Class A, Schedule 1 drug.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Supply of mushrooms carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
No offence is committed if the fungus is growing naturally without being cultivated and has not been picked.
Heroin (diamorphine)
Heroin is a Class A, Schedule 2 drug. It is illegal to possess without a prescription, or to supply or produce without a licence.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
Khat
Khat is a Class C, Schedule 1 drug. It is illegal to possess, supply or produce this drug.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
Ketamine
Ketamine is a Class B, Schedule 4(1) drug. It is illegal to possess, supply or produce this drug.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
LSD
LSD is a Class A, Schedule 1 drug. Possession, supply and production of LSD are offences.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
Mephedrone
Mephedrone is a Class B drug. It is illegal to possess, supply or produce this drug.
Possession of the drug carries a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Supply offences carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
Methadone
Methadone is a Class A, Schedule 2 drug. It is illegal to possess without a prescription, or to supply or produce without a licence.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
Methoxetamine
Methoxetamine is a Class B, Schedule 1 drug. It is illegal to possess, supply or produce.
Possession of Class B drugs carries a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Possession with intent to supply, trafficking offences and production of Class B drugs carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
Methylamphetamine
This is a Class A, Schedule 2 drug. It is an offence to possess, supply or produce.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
Methylone
Methylone is a Class B drug. It is illegal to possess, supply or produce this drug.
Possession of the drug carries a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment. Supply offences carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment.
Morphine
Morphine is a Class A, Schedule 2 drug. It is illegal to possess without a prescription, or to supply or produce without a licence.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
Nitrous oxide is a Class C, Schedule 5 drug. It became a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 on 8 November 2023. It is illegal to possess nitrous oxide where it is intended to be inhaled for recreational purposes. Supply and production are also offences where the person knows or is reckless as to whether it is likely to be inhaled recreationally. Legitimate uses, including medical, catering and industrial purposes, remain lawful.
Unlawful possession carries a maximum sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
NRG-1, NRG-3, Naphyrone
Naphyrone (and the related drugs NRG-1 and NRG-3) is a Class B, Schedule 1 drug. It is illegal to possess, supply or produce.
Possession of Class B drugs carries a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Possession with intent to supply, trafficking offences and production of Class B drugs carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
Opium
This is a Class A drug. In its raw form, it is a Schedule 1 drug, but in a medicinal form it is Schedule 2. It is an offence to possess, supply or produce.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Trafficking offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
PMMA/PMA
Para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA) and para-methoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) are Class A, Schedule 1 drugs. They are illegal to possess, supply or produce.
Possession of Class A drugs carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Possession with intent to supply, trafficking offences and production of Class A drugs carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
Solvents & gases
Please see our guide on the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, which is now the legislation that deals with solvents and gases.
Synthetic Cannabinoids (including Spice and K2)
The law around synthetic cannabinoids is complicated. Some substances belonging to this group are controlled as Class B, Schedule 1 substances and, as such, it is illegal to possess, supply or produce them.
Possession of Class B drugs carries a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Possession with intent to supply, trafficking offences and production of Class B drugs carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
Not all synthetic cannabinoids are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Producers of this group of drugs have altered the chemical structure so that newer products on the market fall outside the scope of the legislation. In order to address this situation, the UK Government passed the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. This legislation, which came into force on 26 May 2016, creates the following offences in relation to new psychoactive substances: importation, including for personal use; exportation; supply; and production. The maximum sentence for these activities is seven years’ imprisonment.
Possession is not an offence under the legislation, but possession in a custodial setting, such as a prison, is an offence carrying a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment. Please see our guide on the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 for a more detailed analysis of the law.
2C-B (& other 2C-type drugs)
2C drugs (including 2C-B) are Class A, Schedule 1 drugs. They are illegal to possess, supply and produce.
Possession of Class A drugs carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Possession with intent to supply, trafficking offences and production of Class A drugs carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
5-MeO Group
5-MeO-DMT (not to be confused with DMT) is a Class A, Schedule 1 drug. It is illegal to possess, supply and produce.
Possession of Class A drugs carries a maximum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine. Possession with intent to supply, trafficking offences and production of Class A drugs carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and/or a fine.
The remaining drugs that fall within the 5-MeO group are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. They fall within the category of ‘new psychoactive substances’ (‘NPS’). In order to address the issue of NPS, the UK Government passed the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. This legislation, which came into force on 26 May 2016, creates the following offences in relation to NPS: importation, including for personal use; exportation; supply; and production. The maximum sentence for these activities is seven years’ imprisonment.
Possession is not an offence under the legislation, but possession in a custodial setting, such as a prison, is an offence carrying a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment. Please see our section on the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 for a more detailed analysis of the law.