An Amiri decree has been issued enacting Legislation No. 59 of 2025 on combating medicine and psychotropic substances and regulating their use and commerce.
The brand new regulation, to be revealed within the official gazette Kuwait Alyawm subsequent Sunday, will enter into drive two weeks after its publication. It replaces and consolidates earlier laws in a complete framework comprising 84 articles throughout 13 chapters.
The decree unifies the beforehand separate authorized regimes governing narcotics and psychotropic substances, particularly Legislation No. 74 of 1983 and Decree-Legislation No. 48 of 1987, each of that are expressly repealed underneath Article 83.
Any provision inconsistent with the brand new regulation is likewise cancelled. The merger goals to standardize terminology, streamline procedures, and improve the effectiveness of nationwide efforts to guard society from the harms related to narcotic medicine and psychotropic substances.
Article 82 stipulates that the competent minister should concern all implementing laws required to implement the provisions of the regulation. Article 84 assigns accountability for implementation to all ministers inside their respective jurisdictions, confirming the regulation’s entry into drive two weeks after publication.
The brand new laws introduces clear definitions governing its utility, together with the identification of the Ministry of Well being because the competent authority and the Minister of Well being because the official empowered to concern licenses.
These licenses authorize people or entities to take care of narcotic or psychotropic substances or chemical precursors for particular, lawful functions.
The regulation additionally gives detailed descriptions of narcotics, psychotropic substances, chemical precursors, and associated preparations, outlining the authorized framework that governs manufacturing, manufacture, cultivation, import, export, transport, possession, smuggling, promotion, and barter.
By combining all associated provisions right into a single authorized instrument, the decree seeks to create a cohesive and modernized system that strengthens management measures and helps nationwide efforts to fight drug-related crimes.
The decree-law gives detailed definitions important for its implementation, together with the phrases “addict,” “consumer,” “rehabilitation middle,” and “dependancy remedy middle.” It additionally defines the official data, paperwork, prescriptions, and knowledge techniques licensed by the Ministry of Well being for monitoring narcotic and psychotropic substances.
The regulation establishes the “Supreme Council for Combating Medication and Psychotropic Substances,” tasked with formulating a nationwide technique to counter drug trafficking and misuse. The Council is liable for guaranteeing compliance throughout ministries and establishments, enhancing public consciousness, growing prevention applications, and overseeing Kuwait’s commitments underneath worldwide treaties.
Beneath the brand new laws, the Ministry of Well being should set up specialised rehabilitation and dependancy remedy facilities in unbiased, security-compliant services. Every middle should embody a devoted part for people underneath 21. The personal sector might also set up comparable medical models, topic to licensing and Ministry oversight.
The Ministry of Inside is remitted to determine separate reform and rehabilitation facilities for people convicted of drug possession for private use. These facilities should present medical remedy, rehabilitation, vocational coaching, and social reintegration applications, and have to be absolutely unbiased from normal prisons.
The regulation strictly prohibits the manufacturing, manufacture, import, export, transportation, possession, sale, or consumption of narcotic or psychotropic substances besides as expressly licensed. Licensing necessities for commerce, possession, medical meting out, and transportation are regulated by choices issued by the Minister of Well being.
Solely licensed pharmaceutical factories could manufacture narcotic or psychotropic preparations, and their actions are restricted to operations licensed by the Ministry. The regulation additionally restricts the cultivation of sure vegetation to authorities our bodies, universities, and licensed scientific establishments.
The penalties part introduces a few of the harshest sanctions in Kuwaiti regulation. The demise penalty or life imprisonment, together with fines reaching two million dinars or the worth of the seized substances, could also be imposed for smuggling, producing, or cultivating narcotics with intent to visitors. Possession or sale with intent to commerce, in addition to promotion of narcotics, might also carry demise or life sentences.
The regulation criminalizes participation in organized teams whose actions contain drug trafficking. Those that set up or handle such organizations could face the demise penalty, whereas people who be part of or assist them could obtain life sentences and heavy fines.
Essential protections are granted to addicts in search of remedy voluntarily. No prison case could also be filed in opposition to an addict who presents himself to a remedy middle earlier than being reported to authorities. Remedy facilities should preserve strict confidentiality, and will launch sufferers upon restoration or for violating particular circumstances.
Judgments issued underneath this regulation are enforceable instantly, and sure choices—corresponding to these associated to admission for remedy—usually are not topic to attraction. Courts are permitted to exempt or cut back penalties for offenders who proactively report crimes. Drug-related prison instances underneath particular articles don’t lapse with time, and the regulation applies to offenses dedicated inside Kuwait, in its financial zone, or by Kuwaitis overseas underneath outlined circumstances.
Lastly, the decree outlines complete procedures for arrest, inspection, and administrative management. Judicial officers are licensed to enter any facility licensed to deal with narcotic or psychotropic substances to make sure compliance with the regulation’s provisions.