Decree-Law 15/93


The Decree-Law 15/93 of January 22 is a Portuguese drug control law implementing the 1988 United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
It classifies substances into six categories, Table I through Table VI. Tables I and II are each further broken down into classes: A, B, and C.
This law was also the first that created the crime of money laundering in Portuguese law, and has been amended 25 times since 1993.
The introduction of the law, which is primarily aimed at controlling drug trafficking, says that although the use of drugs is socially censurable, that "does not prevent drug addicts from being seen in the first place as persons who are in need of medical assistance" who should receive care. Thus, "drug consumers are presently legally punishable in an almost symbolic fashion" that encourages treatment.
While drug use is illegal in Portugal, the law's introduction notes of occasional drug users: "it is necessary above all to avoid them being labelled, marginalised, pushed into an impasse or towards avenues whose only way out is drugs." However, the Portuguese government condemned the Dutch pragmatic policy, well known for its absence of user punishment.
Drug trafficking is punished with very harsh sentences; in the most severe cases, it can be punished by 10 years to 25 years of imprisonment.

Table I

Class A

Class B

Class C

Table II

Class A

Class B

Class C

Table III

Table III includes special preparations which may include limited amounts of any of the controlled drugs listed under Tables I and II.

Table IV

Table V and VI

Tables V and VI comprise precursor substances which may be used to manufacture drugs listed under Tables I and II.

Table V

Table VI