The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
This is the primary legislation for the United Kingdom and came fully
into effect in 1973.
Whilst much of this Act consolidated earlier legislation, it introduced
some important changes. It set up the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, it introduced the concept
of irresponsible prescribing, the Tribunal procedure (which is no longer used) and gave the Home Secretary
the power to introduce strict standards of security rather than the “lock and key” requirements of the
earlier legislation. It also introduced the terms “controlled drugs” and “CD” to replace the previously
used expressions “dangerous drugs” or “DDA” respectively.
The main purpose of the Act is to prevent the misuse of controlled drugs
and achieves this by imposing a complete ban on the possession, supply, manufacture, import and export
of controlled drugs except as allowed by regulations or by licence from the Secretary of State.
Copies of the Act may be obtained though HM Stationery Offices or by
contacting: www.opsi.gov.uk
For control purposes, the drugs are separated into:
