Courts have a wide discretion on what penalty to impose provided that they do not exceed the maximum. They must act judiciously and not arbitrarily, and they must take note of the Court of Appeal's guidelines. Fourteen years imprisonment for allowing premises to be used for producing or for unlawful prescribing 3. Seven years for possession. For any of these offences, the Crown Court has power to impose an unlimited fine in addition to or as well as imprisonment.
All courts have power to impose sentences such as community service or probation instead.
Four years for the importation of any appreciable amount 4. There may be a considerable reduction in penalty if there is a confession of guilt coupled with considerable assistance to the police 5. Three or more years imprisonment for supply. The Magistrates' Association sentencing guidelines suggest a fine of 30 units for possession of a small amount of a Class A drug in contrast to a Guidelines fine of 4 units for the possession of a Class B drug. This makes it an offence to manufacture or supply a scheduled substance knowing or suspecting it to be used in the unlawful production of a controlled drug.