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 2003(2) 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(3) In Part 3 (Class C drugs) the following words are repealed —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”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

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.