Article 40 of the Saudi Narcotics Law Implementing Regulations
المادة 40 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article provides that the Regulations are published in the Official Gazette and take effect thirty days after the date of their publication.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تُنشر هذه اللائحة في الجريدة الرسمية ، ويعمل بها بعد ثلاثين يوما من تاريخ نشرها .
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 40 explained in plain English
This is a closing article that sets when the Regulations become effective, and it contains two provisions:
- Publication: the Regulations are published in the Official Gazette.
- Start of effect: they take effect thirty days after the date of their publication.
In practical terms, the Regulations' provisions do not apply from the day of publication itself but after thirty days have passed from it.
The text shown does not state the date of publication itself, so to know the day on which the Regulations took effect, one must refer to the date they were published in the Official Gazette. Some articles of the Regulations also authorize particular bodies to amend lists, quantities or rules, such as Article 34, which allows the Minister of Interior, in coordination with the Minister of Health, to amend the table of substances and their quantities. The reference for any amendment is the decision issued for it.
Anyone with a question about whether the Regulations apply to an incident that occurred near the date they took effect can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 40 of the Saudi Narcotics Law Implementing Regulations
When do the Implementing Regulations of the Law of Combating Narcotic Drugs take effect?
Thirty days after the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
Where are the Regulations published?
In the Official Gazette.
More articles on Confiscating and Destroying Drugs and Exemption
- Article 36
The article provides for confiscating the substances in paragraph (1) of Article 52 of the Law as soon as they are seized, and regulates keeping them with the seizing body, destruction committees, and handing them to government bodies for lawful purposes.
1- تصادر المواد المذكورة في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الثانية والخمسين) من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية بمجرد ضبطها على أن يثبت ذلك في محضر الضبط . 2 - لو
- Article 37
The article requires the competent executive bodies to take the measures necessary to implement what is provided in Articles 55, 56 and 57 of the Law of Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
تتخذ الجهات التنفيذية المختصة الإجراءات اللازمة لتنفيذ ما ورد في المواد ( الخامسة والخمسين ، والسادسة والخمسين ، والسابعة والخمسين) من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والم
- Article 38
The article provides that the exemption under Article 61 of the Narcotics Law is issued by a reasoned decision of the head of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution.
يصدر الإعفاء المنصوص عليه في المادة (الحادية والستين) من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية بقرار مسبب من رئيس هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام.
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.