The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2008

Made: 10th December 2008

Coming into force: 26th January 2009

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 10th day of December 2008Present,The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council

Accordingly, Her Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred upon Her by sections 2(2) and 2(4) of that Act, is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order as follows:

Citation, commencement and revocation

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2008 and shall come into force on 26th January 2009.

• (2) The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Modification) (No. 2) Order 2003² is revoked.

Amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

2

• (1) Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (which specifies the drugs which are subject to control under that Act) is amended as follows.

• (2) In Part 2 (Class B drugs)—

• (a) in paragraph 1(a), after “Amphetamine” insert—

Cannabinol Cannabinol derivatives Cannabis and cannabis resin

• (b) after paragraph 2 insert—

(2A) Any ester or ether of cannabinol or of a cannabinol derivative.

; and

• (c) in paragraph 3, for “or 2” substitute “, 2 or 2A”.

• (3) In Part 3 (Class C drugs) the following words are repealed —

• (a) in paragraph 1(a), “Cannabinol”, “Cannabinol derivatives” and “Cannabis and cannabis resin”; and

• (b) in paragraph 1(d), “or of cannabinol or a cannabinol derivative”.

Signed

Judith Simpson — Clerk of the Privy Council

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order reclassifies cannabis, cannabis resin, cannabinol and cannabinol derivatives from Class C to Class B drugs for the purposes of control under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. In addition, any substance which is an ester or ether of cannabinol or of a cannabinol derivative is reclassified as a Class B drug.

Footnotes