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Consuming Drugs

Last updated on May 31, 2024

Trigger Warning: The following content contains information on drugs and narcotics which some readers may find disturbing. 

Consuming banned drugs and substances is illegal in India and the punishment for this includes jail time  and/or fine. 

If you are caught consuming cocaine, morphine, diacetyl-morphine, you can be punished with jail time for up to 1 year and/or fine of up to Rs. 20,000. For any other banned drugs, you can be punished with jail time for up to 6 months and/or fine of up to Rs. 10,000.1

Sikkim is the only State in India that provides for immunity from prosecution for consumption of drugs through rehabilitation of addicts. Addicts who consume drugs can voluntarily seek to undergo medical treatment for de-addiction from a hospital or institution maintained by the Government to avoid prosecution. 9 Further, if a person consumes a drug without a medical prescription in Sikkim, they have to undergo compulsory detoxification, followed by rehabilitation and shall be only liable to pay a fine upto Rs. 10000.2

  1. Section 27, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. [↩]
  2. Sikkim Anti Drugs Act, 2006 [↩]

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