Article 41 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 41 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article punishes with 6 months to 2 years in prison anyone who commits the acts of Articles 37 and 38 with intent to use personally, and increases the penalty for those charged with combating narcotics and anyone who uses them at work.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تقل عن ستة أشهر ولا تزيد على سنتين، كل من ارتكب أحد الأفعال الجرمية المنصوص عليها في المادتين (السابعة والثلاثين) و(الثامنة والثلاثين) من هذا النظام، وكان ذلك بقصد التعاطي أو الاستعمال الشخصي في غير الأحوال المصرح بها نظاما.
2 - تشدد العقوبة في الحالات الآتية :
أ - إذا كان المتعاطي من المنوط بهم مكافحة المخدرات أو المؤثرات العقلية أو الرقابة على حيازتها أو تداولها، أو الذين لهم صلة وظيفية بأي نوع من أنواع المخدرات أو المؤثرات العقلية .
ب - إذا تعاطى المادة المخدرة أو المؤثر العقلي أو استعملها أو كان تحت تأثيرها أثناء تأدية عمله.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 41 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case of the user: someone who committed one of the acts criminalized in Articles 37 and 38, but whose intent was use or personal consumption, outside the cases permitted by law.
The acts referred to in Article 37 include smuggling narcotics, receiving them from a smuggler, and bringing them in, making them, cultivating them and the like, and in Article 38 they include possessing, buying, holding, receiving or transporting them and so on. If it is established that the purpose of the act is personal use, not promotion or trade, the penalty moves from the severe penalties in those two articles to the penalty provided here.
The basic penalty (paragraph 1): imprisonment for a period of not less than 6 months and not more than two years.
Cases of aggravation (paragraph 2):
- (a) If the user is among those entrusted with combating narcotic or psychotropic substances or supervising their possession or circulation, or has an occupational connection with any kind of them.
- (b) If he used the substance or consumed it or was under its influence while performing his work.
The article does not specify the amount of the aggravation.
It is important for a user to know that the Law opens other routes for him besides punishment: Article 42 provides that no case is brought against a person who comes forward himself, or whose ascendants, descendants, spouse or relatives come forward, seeking his treatment, on condition of handing over any narcotics in his possession or pointing out where they are, and allows the investigation to be shelved the first time on conditions including that the accused is not over 20 years of age. Before it, Article 40 deals with laundering funds derived from narcotics offenses.
Anyone facing an accusation of use can consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases to understand his position.
Practical example
An employee of a private company in Khobar is caught with a small quantity of hashish, and it is established that it was for his personal use. He is punished under paragraph 1 of Article 41 with imprisonment from 6 months to two years. But if he worked for a body charged with combating narcotics, or it was established that he used it while performing his work, the penalty is aggravated for him.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 41 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
What is the penalty for drug use in Saudi Arabia?
Imprisonment from 6 months to two years for anyone who commits the acts of Articles 37 and 38 with intent to use or for personal consumption.
When is the penalty for a user aggravated?
If he is among those entrusted with combating narcotics or supervising them or has an occupational connection with them, or if he used them or was under their influence while performing his work.
Can a user avoid punishment by seeking treatment?
Article 42 provides that no case is brought against a person who comes forward himself or whose relative comes forward seeking his treatment, on condition of handing over any narcotics in his possession or pointing out where they are.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 37
The article sets death as a ta'zir penalty for smuggling narcotics and similar acts, allows the court to reduce this to at least 15 years in prison, and increases the penalty to at least 25 years in specific cases.
أولا : مع مراعاة ما ورد في البند ( ثانيا ) من هذه المادة يعاقب بالقتل تعزيرا من ثبت شرعا بحقه شيء من الأفعال الآتية : 1 - تهريب مواد مخدرة أو مؤثرات عقلية . 2 -
- Article 38
The article punishes with 5 to 15 years in prison, flogging and a fine anyone who possesses, sells or transports narcotics with intent to trade or promote, and increases the penalty in specific cases.
1- يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تقل عن خمس سنوات ولا تزيد عن خمس عشرة سنة، وبالجلد بما لا يزيد على خمسين جلدة في كل مرة، وبغرامة من ألف ريال إلى خمسين ألف ريال - كل من ح
More articles on Penalty for Drug Use
- Article 42
The article bars prosecution of a user or addict who comes forward, or whose relative comes forward, asking for treatment and hands over what he holds, and allows the investigation to be shelved for a first offense under set conditions.
1- لا تقام الدعوى بسبب تعاطي أو استعمال أو إدمان المخدرات أو المؤثرات العقلية بحق مرتكب أحد هذه الأفعال إذا تقدم بنفسه أو أحد أصوله أو فروعه أو زوجه أو أحد أقار
- Article 46
The article punishes a person who frequents a place prepared for drug use, while use is going on and knowing what happens there, with up to 3 months in prison or flogging, and exempts the relatives and residents of the person who prepared the place unless they took part.
1- يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على ثلاثة أشهر أو بالجلد بما لا يزيد على خمسين جلدة، كل من ضبط يتردد على مكان معد لتعاطي المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية ، وذلك أ
- Article 47
The article allows the Minister of Interior or his delegate to be content with deporting an addict who arrived on a Hajj or Umrah visa if the substances he holds do not exceed his personal need, with the Implementing Regulations setting their type and quantity.
ل وزير الداخلية -أو من يفوضه- الاكتفاء بإبعاد مدمن المخدرات أو المؤثرات العقلية الذي قدم بتأشيرة حج أو عمرة وبحوزته مواد مخدرة أو مؤثرات عقلية لا تفيض عن حاجته
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.