Misuse of Drugs Act (Singapore)

Misuse of Drugs Act

An Act for the control of dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs and substances and for purposes connected therewith.
Citation No. 5 of 1973 (now Cap. 185, 2008 Rev. Ed.)
Enacted by Parliament of Singapore
Date enacted 16 February 1973
Date assented to 7 July 1973
Date commenced 7 July 1973
Legislative history
Bill Misuse of Drugs Bill
Bill citation Bill No. 46/72
Bill published on 25 November 1972
Introduced by Chua Sian Chin (Minister for Health and Home Affairs)
First reading 22 November 1972
Second reading 16 February 1973
Third reading 16 February 1973
Related legislation
Dangerous Drugs Act 1951; Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act 1969
Status: In force

The Misuse of Drugs Act is a drug control law in Singapore classifying substances into three categories, Classes A, B, and C. Section 44 provides that "The Minister may, by an order published in the Gazette" add, remove, or transfer drugs among the classes. The statute's penal provisions are draconian by most nations' standards, providing for long terms of imprisonment, caning, and capital punishment. The law creates a presumption of trafficking for certain threshold amounts, e.g. 30 grams of cannabis. It also creates a presumption that a person possesses drugs if he possesses the keys to a premises containing the drugs, and that "Any person found in or escaping from any place or premises which is proved or presumed to be used for the purpose of smoking or administering a controlled drug shall, until the contrary is proved, be presumed to have been smoking or administering a controlled drug in that place or premises." Thus, one runs the risk of arrest for drug use by simply being in the company of drug users. The law also allows officers to search premises and individuals, without a search warrant, if he "reasonably suspects that there is to be found a controlled drug or article liable to seizure". Moreover, Section 31 allows officers to demand urinalysis of suspected drug offenders.

Thresholds

Section 17 of the Misuse of Drugs Act[1] lists the amount of controlled drugs beyond which, the person who carries them shall be presumed to possess them for the purpose of drug trafficking unless proven otherwise:

Controlled Drug Presumed trafficking Mandatory death penalty [2]
opium[3] 100 grams (3.5 oz) 1,200 grams (42 oz)
morphine[4] 3 grams (0.11 oz) 30 grams (1.1 oz)
diamorphine (heroin) 2 grams (0.071 oz) 15 grams (0.53 oz)[5]
cannabis[6] 15 grams (0.53 oz) 500 grams (18 oz)
cannabis mixture 30 grams (1.1 oz) 500 grams (18 oz)
cannabis resin 15 grams (0.53 oz) 100 grams (3.5 oz)
cocaine 3 grams (0.11 oz) 30 grams (1.1 oz)[7]
hashish 10 grams (0.35 oz) 200 grams (7.1 oz)
methamphetamine 25 grams (0.88 oz) 250 grams (8.8 oz)[8]
10 grams (0.35 oz) of any or any combination of the following:
  • N, α-dimethyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine (MDMA)
  • α-methyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine (MDA)
  • N-ethyl-α-methyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine (MDEA)

The possession, consumption, manufacturing, import, export, or trafficking of these and other controlled drugs in any amount are illegal. Persons caught with less than the Mandatory Death Penalty amounts of these controlled substances face penalties ranging from caning[9] (up to 24 strokes) to life in prison. Pursuant to a law change in 2009, cannabis (marijuana) and marijuana mixtures (diluted with other substances) are treated the same under Singapore law—the presumed intent is trafficking.

Schedule I – Controlled Drugs

Class A – Part I

The Singapore embarkation card contains a warning to visitors about the death penalty for drug trafficking. Warning signs can be found at the Johor-Singapore Causeway and other border entries. Singapore Airlines and Jetstar Asia Airways also announces similar warnings to air passengers during flights to the country.

Some examples include:

Schedule II – Controlled Drugs

Class B – Part II

Some examples include:

Class C – Part III

Some examples include:

Part IV

For the purposes of this Paragraph:

Schedule III

Controlled equipment, materials or substances useful for manufacturing controlled drugs

See also

References

  1. ↑ Misuse of Drugs Act (CHAPTER 185). p. PART III EVIDENCE, ENFORCEMENT AND PUNISHMENT. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  2. ↑ "GeoAsia Tourist information – MDP Singapore drug laws". Goseasia.about.com. 23 September 1994. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "HISTORY OF DRUG ABUSE & SANA". The Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA). Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "I had a morphine jab". Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "The "14.99g" charge". Death Penalty in Singapore. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "Drugs and Inhalants". Central Narcotics Bureau. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  7. ↑ Lee, Melanie. "FEATURE-Party drugs a hit with wealthy in Singapore". Reuters. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Drugs and Inhalants". Central Narcotics Bureau. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "Drug Laws". SINGAPORE ANTI-NARCOTICS ASSOCIATION. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
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