Legal status of cocaine

The legal status of cocaine differs from legal elements in some countries to outright illegal status in others.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

List by country
CountryPossessionSaleTransportCultivationNotes
 ArgentinaDecriminalized for private useIllegalIllegalLegalThe consumption and possession of fresh coca leaves for chewing and teas is legal.
 AustraliaLegal MedicallyLegal MedicallyLegal MedicallyLegal Medically

Cocaine is a Schedule 8 (controlled) drug permitting some medical use, but is otherwise outlawed.[1]

 BahamasIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalPossession and use is illegal.[2]
 BangladeshIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalAll kind of uses, selling, cultivation and transportation is illegal in Bangladesh.
 BoliviaDecriminalized up to less than 50 gramsIllegalIllegalLegalLimited private cultivation of coca is legal in Bolivia, where chewing the leaves and drinking coca tea are considered cultural practices, in particular in the mountainous regions. Processed cocaine is illegal but decriminalized up to less than 50 grams.
 BrazilDecriminalized for private useIllegalIllegalIllegalPublic consumption and selling of cocaine are considered crimes. Punishments for public consumption include a warning about the drugs effects, community service (5 to 10 months), and educational courses or programs. Punishment for the selling of cocaine is 5 to 15 years of jail, a R$500–1,500 fine and course or program attendance. The decision on which purpose the apprehended drug had is based on judge decision.[3]
 CanadaIllegalLegal MedicallyLegal MedicallyLegal MedicallyPossession and use is illegal.[4] Cocaine remains a Schedule I narcotic.
 ColombiaLegal (up to 1 gram)IllegalLegalLegalSince 1994, possession of 1 gram of cocaine has been legal for personal use.[5][6] Sale remains illegal, but personal production or gifts of cocaine are permitted.
 Czech RepublicDecriminalised (up to 1 gram)IllegalIllegalIllegalPossession of up to 1 gram for personal use is punishable by fine of up to 15000 CZK according to act 167/1998 §39, possession of higher amount is illegal according to Criminal code with up to 2-year sentence. Trafficking is punishable by 2–18 years in prison, depending on the scale and other circumstances.
 GermanyLegal Medically, DecriminalizedIllegalIllegalIllegalPossession of cocaine without a medical prescription is illegal. Small amounts for personal consumption may go unpunished for first-time or non-regular offenders, however this varies by state. Usually revocation of a driving license will follow from confiscation of any drug except marijuana, since drug users are considered a road hazard.
 ChinaIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalUse and possession of cocaine is illegal.
 IndiaIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalUse and possession of cocaine is illegal with a mandatory 10-year sentence. But It is not often Upheld and wrongly assumed and no proof has been given that Freely Available in Local Shops in Cities.
 IrelandIllegalIllegalIegalIllegalCocaine use, possession, sale, cultivation and transport is illegal.
 JapanIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalPenalty for cocaine consumption: maximum of 7 years in jail.[7]
 LuxembourgIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalUse and possession of cocaine is illegal.
 MalaysiaIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalUse and possession of cocaine is illegal.
 MexicoLegal (up to 1 Gram)IllegalIllegalIllegalThere is no punishment for carrying up to 1/2 a gram, however any amount over that is illegal.[8]
 NetherlandsUnenforced (small amounts)IllegalIllegalIllegalCocaine is considered an illegal hard-drug. Possession, production and trade are not allowed as stated in the Opium Law of 1928. Although technically illegal, possession of less than half a gram usually goes unpunished.[9][10]
 New ZealandIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalCocaine is a Class A drug. The coca leaf and preparations of cocaine containing no more than 0.1% cocaine base, in such a way that the cocaine cannot be recovered, are both classified as Class C, and are punishable with 3 months imprisonment and/or a fine of $500.[11][12]
 NigeriaIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIt is illegal to import, manufacture, process, plant or grow, export, transport, traffic, sell, buy, expose for sale, smoke, inhale, inject, possess or deal with cocaine.[13]
 PakistanIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalUse and possession of cocaine is illegal.
 PhilippinesIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalUse and possession of cocaine is illegal. Possession of cocaine is explicitly named as an illegal substance under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The possession 10 grams or more of cocaine or cocaine hydrochloride is punishable by up to life imprisonment.[14]
 PeruLegal (up to 2 grams of cocaine or 5 grams of cocaine-freebase)IllegalIllegalLegal (Coca Plants)Cultivation of coca plants is legal, and coca leaves are sold openly on markets. Similarly to Bolivia, chewing leaves and drinking coca tea are cultural practices. Possession of up to 2 grams of cocaine or up to 5 grams of coca paste is legal for personal use in Peru per Article 299 of the Peruvian Penal Code. It is important to note that if a person possess two or more kinds of drugs at the same time it is considered criminal offense.[15]
 PortugalDecriminalized up to 2 gramsIllegalIllegalIllegalPersonal use of cocaine is decriminalized. Drug abuse is dealt with by administrative and medical intervention. Trafficking is illegal.[16]
 Saudi ArabiaIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalUse and possession of cocaine is punishable by death.
 SingaporeIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalUse and possession is punishable by death.
 South AfricaIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIt is a crime to have cocaine in your possession.[17]
  SwitzerlandIllegal but decriminalized is punishable with a fineIllegalIllegalIllegalTraffickers of cocaine are sentenced with jail. Personal use is punished with a fine, contrary to common belief possession of up to 18 grams is not legal. According to a recent study, 5 Swiss cities (St Gallen, Bern, Zurich, Basel and Geneva) were listed among top 10 European cities for cocaine use.[18][19]
 ThailandIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalThailand is very strict on drugs and it is very common to be stopped, searched and asked to given urine samples on the street, especially in Bangkok. Being caught with intent to sell is punishable by 10 years to life in prison. Consumption for personal use is 1 – 10 years in prison or a fine, or both.[20]
 United KingdomIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalCocaine was first made illegal by the Dangerous Drugs Act 1920. It is now classed as a Class A drug, controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Possession carries a punishment of up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. Supply and production carries a punishment of up to life in prison, an unlimited fine or both.[21] It is legal for medical use as a local anaesthetic.
 United StatesLegal Medically, decriminalized in the state of OregonLegal MedicallyLegal MedicallyLegal MedicallyCocaine is a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act. It is available in a liquid preparation for use in hospitals or medical/surgical centers, but is not available for prescription.[22]
CountryPossessionSaleTransportCultivationNotes

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "US men told to pay up or go to jail | The Tribune". tribune242.com. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  3. "LEI Nº 11.343, DE 23 DE AGOSTO DE 2006". Palácio do Planalto. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
  4. "Controlled Drugs and Substances Act". laws-lois.justice.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  5. Housego, Kim (2004-04-05). "As addiction rises, Colombia weighs rolling back decade-old drug legalization". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  6. Murphy, Jarrett (2004-04-05). "Colombia sinks in sea of legal cocaine, heroin". CBS News. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  7. "Japan Sega game sales halted after cocaine arrest". Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  8. "Heroin and cocaine now legal in Mexico – in small doses | Americas | News | The Independent". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  9. "HET OPPORTUNITEITSPRINCIPE / AFZIEN VAN STRAFVERVOLGING". Lwl.org. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  10. "Drugsverbod juridisch ontmaskeren?". Drugsbeleid.nl. Archived from the original on 28 April 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  11. "Misuse of Drugs Act 1975". New Zealand Legislation. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  12. "Illicit drugs – offences and penalties". Police.govt.nz. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-01. Retrieved 2014-10-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. "Death penalty for 50g of seized illegal drugs? Sotto says, 'Hindi naman puwede 'yun'". GMA News. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  15. "Overview of drug laws and legislative trends in Peru". Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  16. Greenwald, Glenn; Peter Reuter; Tim Lynch (2009-04-03). "Lessons for Creating Fair and Successful Drug Policies" (PDF). Drug Decriminalization in Portugal. Cato Institute.
  17. "DRUGS AND DRUG TRAFFICKING ACT" (PDF). Justice.gov.za. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  18. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/science-saturday_zurich-is-europe-s-weekend-cocaine-capital/43961046
  19. http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/criminal-convictions_youth-crime--more-drug-use--less-dealing/44241418
  20. https://idpc.net/blog/2017/02/thailand-amends-drug-law-to-reduce-penalties-and-ensure-more-proportionate-sentencing
  21. "Drugs penalties - GOV.UK". Gov.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  22. "How cocaine can be used in sinus surgery". kevinmd.com. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
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