{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/misuse-of-drugs-act-1971/section-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/misuse-of-drugs-act-1971/section-4.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1971/38",
  "legislation_title": "Misuse of Drugs Act 1971",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/misuse-of-drugs-act-1971",
  "path": "section/4",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": "Restriction of production and supply of controlled drugs.",
  "text": "(1) Subject to any regulations under section 7 of this Act , or any provision made in a temporary class drug order by virtue of section 7A, for the time being in force, it shall not be lawful for a person—\n(a) to produce a controlled drug; or\n(b) to supply or offer to supply a controlled drug to another.\n(2) Subject to section 28 of this Act, it is an offence for a person—\n(a) to produce a controlled drug in contravention of subsection (1) above; or\n(b) to be concerned in the production of such a drug in contravention of that subsection by another.\n(3) Subject to section 28 of this Act, it is an offence for a person—\n(a) to supply or offer to supply a controlled drug to another in contravention of subsection (1) above; or\n(b) to be concerned in the supplying of such a drug to another in contravention of that subsection; or\n(c) to be concerned in the making to another in contravention of that subsection of an offer to supply such a drug.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(1) inserted (15.11.2011) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 17 para. 5; S.I. 2011/2515, art. 3(g)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 4(1)(a) excluded (1.2.2002) by S.I. 2001/3998, regs. 4, 8(1), 9(1) (with reg. 2(3))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 4(1)(b) excluded (1.2.2002) by S.I. 2001/3998, regs. 6, 8(2)-(6), 9(2)-(6), 11(1)(2) (with reg. 2(3))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 4(1)(b) excluded by S.I. 2001/3998, reg. 8(7)(8) (as inserted (15.10.2003) by Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2429), regs. 1, 2(5))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "S. 4(1)(b) excluded by S.I. 2001/3998, reg. 9(7)(8) (as inserted (15.10.2003) by Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2429), regs. 1, 2(6))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C5",
      "text": "S. 4(1)(b) excluded by S.I. 2001/3998, reg. 8(7) (as substituted (14.11.2005) by Misuse of Drugs and the Misuse of Drugs (Supply to Addicts) (amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2864), regs. 1(1), 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C6",
      "text": "S. 4(1)(b) excluded by S.I. 2001/3998, reg. 8(7) (as substituted (14.11.2005) by Misuse of Drugs and the Misuse of Drugs (Supply to Addicts) (amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2864), regs. 1(1), 8)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C7",
      "text": "S. 4(1)(b) excluded by S.I. 2001/3998, reg. 9(7A) (as inserted (E.W.S) (31.12.2023) by The Misuse of Drugs (England and Wales and Scotland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1345), regs. 1(2), 8(b))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C8",
      "text": "S. 4(1)(b) excluded by S.I. 2001/3998, reg. 8(7A) (as inserted (E.W.S) (31.12.2023) by The Misuse of Drugs (England and Wales and Scotland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1345), regs. 1(2), 7(b))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C9",
      "text": "S. 4(1)(b) excluded by S.I. 2001/3998, reg. 8(8)(c) (as inserted (E.W.S) (31.12.2023) by The Misuse of Drugs (England and Wales and Scotland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1345), regs. 1(2), 7(c))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C10",
      "text": "S. 4(1)(b) excluded by S.I. 2001/3998, reg. 6(2A) (as inserted (E.W.S) (31.12.2023) by The Misuse of Drugs (England and Wales and Scotland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1345), regs. 1(2), 4(b))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C11",
      "text": "S. 4(2)(3) saved by (E.W.) Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), Sch. 5 para. 1(2)(b)(i)(ii) and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21), Sch. 7B para. 1(2)(b)(i)(ii)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/38/section/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:50:00.895978+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}