Khaberni - Kuwait has adopted a new draft decree-law concerning the control of drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as regulating their use and trafficking, which aggravates penalties, up to the death penalty, coupled with high financial fines for the smuggler, trader, promoter, and dealer in regards to the drugs and psychotropic substances.
Informed sources compared the new draft law, which was prepared by a judicial committee formed by Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef and chaired by Advisor Mohammed Al-Duaij, to "an open war against drug traffickers," as it includes severe penalties including the death penalty in four cases, describing the law as innovative and unique with newly introduced crimes and therapeutic and preventive controls that are incomparable to laws in other countries, according to the same sources.
The sources added that the law aims to "close and address legislative gaps in the old law, which resulted in thousands of acquittals in drug cases due to errors and invalid procedures, and thus, acquittals due to invalid procedures with the new law are almost non-existent."
Regarding the deterrent penalties in the law, the sources stated that it prescribes the death penalty for anyone who provides a minor with drugs or psychotropic substances with the intent of consumption, even if there is no compensation, and it decrees the death penalty for anyone who uses their position to traffic drugs."
The sources explained that the law addresses the concept of bartering, as it prescribes the death penalty for anyone who provides a drug or psychotropic substance to another person (such as a Lyrica pill or Capti for example) in exchange for any intermediary request, even if it's in exchange for a legitimate service.
Similarly, the penalties also include imposing the death penalty for anyone who offers a drug or psychotropic substance (such as marijuana cigarettes or shabu) to two or more people for consumption without any compensation, as a gift or courtesy or for trial.
The sources clarified that while the law decides a 10-year imprisonment penalty for those who use stimulants in sports clubs, it also prescribes 3 years imprisonment "for anyone who lures another or incites them to consume, even if the incitement is indirect, such as talking about the benefits of substance use on human activity or mood."
The law also includes a 3-year imprisonment for anyone who is present during drug consumption if it occurs in front of them, and they could leave the place but did not do so, with exemptions for the spouse, children, and parents.
