Drug possessionVerified against official source

Class A — summary

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – 6 months

Fine

Unlimited fine (the prescribed sum)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Either-way. Sch 4 prints a dual '12 months / 6 months' summary figure (amendment footnotes); the operative summary maximum is 6 months.

Class A — on indictment

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – 7 years

Fine

Unlimited fine

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Class B — summary

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – 3 months

Fine

£0–£2,500

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Either-way. £2,500 cap as written in Sch 4.

Class B — on indictment

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – 5 years

Fine

Unlimited fine

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Class C — summary

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – 3 months

Fine

£0–£1,000

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Either-way. £1,000 cap as written in Sch 4.

Class C — on indictment

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – 2 years

Fine

Unlimited fine

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.