Cocaine
Legal Status
U.S. FEDERAL LAW #
Caution : All legal information should be verified through other sources. [see below]
U.S. FEDERAL LEGAL SUMMARY | |
Cocaine | |
REGULATED | Yes |
STATUS | Scheduled |
SCHEDULE | Schedule II |
CLASSIFICATION | Stimulant |
Cocaine and Crack (freebase cocaine) are both Schedule II in the United States. This means they are illegal to sell without a DEA license and illegal to buy or possess without a license or prescription.
Cocaine and Crack (freebase cocaine) are both Schedule II.
Cocaine and Crack (freebase cocaine) are both Schedule II.
INTERNATIONAL LAW #
Brazil #
Cocaine is illegal to extract, distribute, sell, or use, and its prohibition is strongly enforced. We have an unconfirmed and unlikely report that some amount of unprocessed coca leaves are legal to possess. (thanks P) (last updated Jan 8 2011)
Canada #
Cocaine is Schedule I in Canada. (Note: Canadian schedules are very different than U.S. schedules)
India #
Cocaine is a controlled substance in India under the Psychotropic substances and Narcotic drugs Act of 1985. One erowid visitor reports that over 2 grams is considered commercial quantity and possession of 2 grams or more has a minimum sentence of two years. (unconfirmed) (thanks ib) (last updated Jul 22 2013)
Italy (Italia) #
Listed in Tabella I of "Tabelle delle sostanze stupefacenti e psicotrope", making it illegal to possess, purchase, or sell. (see Tabelle delle sostanze stupefacenti e psicotrope. (thanks a) (last updated Dec 16, 2015)
Norway #
Cocaine and coca leaves are illegal to possess or buy in Norway. See Norway Law. (thanks Y)
Peru #
According to Article 2999 in the Peruvian penal code, personal possession of small amounts individual drugs is not a crime. The list of maximum quantities include 2000mg of cocaine, 5000 mg cocaine basic paste, 8000 mg of cannabis, 2000mg of cannabis derivatives, 1000 mg of opium latex or 200mg of opium derivatives, 250mg of MDA or MDMA. See http://howtoperu.com/2012/03/27/drugs-in-peru-laws-of-possession/. (unconfirmed) (thanks cr) (last updated Feb 26, 2013)
Portugal #
Effective July 2001, personal use of cocaine was decriminalized by Law 30/2000 (see text of law). Possession of less than 2 g (cocaine HCL) or 300 mg (methyl ester of benzoylecgonine) is not regarded as a criminal offense, though the substance is liable to be seized and the possessor can be referred to mandatory treatment. Sale, or possession of quantities greater than the personal possession limit, are criminal offenses punishable by jail time. (thanks P)
U.K. #
Cocaine is Schedule 2/Class A in the U.K., making it illegal to buy or possess without a prescription. Cocaine can be prescribed for therapeutic
purposes. However, a doctor must obtain a license from the Home Office
if the drug is to be prescribed for treating addiction. (thanks NNN)
If you have information about the legal status of this substance in any other country, please let us know.
CAUTION & DISCLAIMER #
Erowid legal information is a summary of data gathered from site visitors, government documents, websites, and other resources. We are not lawyers and can not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided here. We do our best to keep this information correct and up-to-date, but laws are complex and constantly changing. Laws may also vary from one jurisdiction to another (county, state, country, etc)...this list is not comprehensive.
RELATED RESOURCES #
RELATED LINKS #
Getting Tough on Cocaine Traffickers and Fixing the Racial Disparity of Crack Prosecutions, E Sterling 2006
Crack Cocaine Sentencing Rule Hits 20, NPR Oct 27 2006 (audio)
The Death of Len Bias, My Generation’s One-Person Shock Doctrine - Nov 28, 2013, The Nation