Scheduling and legality Flashcards
First example of drug scheduling
Gin act of 1751.
From British parliament.
prohibited sale of gin to unlicensed merchants to reduce crime
19th century acts
Pharmacy act of 1852 - created register of pharmaceutical chemists
medical act of 1858 set up the general medical council.
Pharmacy act of 1868 set up a register of people allowed to sell or dispense compound poisons - included strychnine, cyanide, ergot, and opium
Origins of international drug scheduling
1971 Vienna convention. 4 schedules based on risk and medicinal uses. schedule 1 has no/few medicinal uses.
UK drug scheduling acts
Misuse of drugs act 1971 and misuse of drugs regulation 2001 - later of which regulated who could administer drugs to other people.
in section 2 of MDA (1971), drugs were grouped into part 1, 2, and 3, which the expressions class A, B and C come from.
section 4 MDA restricted the production and supply of controlled drugs.
section 5 of MDA restricted the possession of controlled drugs.
Sections 6 and 7 restricted the cultivation of cannabis.
Section 9 made it illegal to some opium, visit and opium den, or have possession of paraphernalia related to opium use.
Section 28 states that a person is only committing a crime if they consumed the drug knowingly.
Section 25 determined the prosecution suitable for different drug related crimes
Current drug penalties in the UK
Based on “psychoactive substances” which alter alertness, perception, and mood.
no penalty for possession
up to 7 years in prison for supply and production.
examples of drugs in different schedules (UK)
1: weed, coca leaf, psychedelics, raw opium
2: amphetamine, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl
3: buprenorphine, temazepam, flunitrazepam.
4: diazepam, nandrolone, other steroids.
5: preparations of drugs that have very low concentrations, e.g., preparations containing less than 0.2% morphine.
Advisory council on the misuse of drugs
Psychiatrists, pharmacologists, social workers, lawyers, and police officers that attempt to rationalise the harm associated with drug consumption. advise the government.
