Parliament: Dissemination of information on consumption of controlled drugs tabled as an offence

Among the proposed crimes under the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2018 – introduced for a First Reading – is the dissemination or publication of any information relating to the cultivation, manufacture, consumption, trafficking, import or export of controlled drugs. In a press release, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said valid defences to these two proposed crimes would include “legitimate purposes relating to the administration of justice, science, medicine, education and art not intended to promote drug offending”. The Bill also proposes to penalise adults who recklessly leave drugs or drug utensils with easy access of children.