Drugs: Crime

(asked on 30th December 2020) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to increase sentences on (a) possession and (b) intent to supply of synthetic drugs.


Answered by
Kit Malthouse Portrait
Kit Malthouse
This question was answered on 11th January 2021

The Government has no plans to change the lengths of sentences which can be handed down for possession or intent to supply Class A, B or C controlled drugs. We consider the classification of drugs on a case by case basis taking into consideration advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). This includes changing the classification of drugs which are already controlled as well as classifying new substances or those which are newly understood to pose a risk of harm or misuse.

We will shortly be introducing controls over several novel benzodiazepines for the first time as Class C drugs, following ACMD advice, and this will mean a maximum sentence of up to two years in prison, an unlimited fine or both for possession, and up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both for supply and production of these substances. We are currently considering recent ACMD recommendations on increasing the classification of GBL/GHB and on maintaining the current classification of synthetic cannabinoids and we will respond in due course.

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