Controlled Drug Classification
The system under section 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 by which controlled drugs are designated Class A, B or C by reference to Schedule 2 of the Act, with the class determining maximum penalties for possession, supply and production.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Section 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 provides that the expressions “Class A drug”, “Class B drug” and “Class C drug” mean any of the substances and products for the time being specified respectively in Part I, Part II and Part III of that Schedule, meaning classification is fixed by which Part of Schedule 2 a substance appears in rather than by any separate statutory test. Substances can be added, moved or removed from the classes: Her Majesty may by Order in Council make such amendments in Schedule 2 to this Act, though such an Order requires a draft to be laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
In practice, current gov.uk guidance groups substances such as cocaine, heroin and ecstasy (MDMA) as Class A, cannabis and amphetamines as Class B, and anabolic steroids and benzodiazepines as Class C. The penalties depend on the type or ‘class’ of drug or substance, the amount you have, and whether you're also dealing or producing it, with maximum penalties scaling by class — for example, Class A possession carries up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both, considerably higher than the maximum for Class B or C possession, while unlawful supply and production penalties are markedly higher again across all three classes.
Related terms
Official sources
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