CHAPTER CONTENTS
Last updated 1 September 2021
Commonwealth Drug Offences
Principal Commonwealth Drug Offences
Which Court will Hear Commonwealth Drug Offences
Federal Police Investigative Powers
Queensland Drug Offences
Categories of Dangerous Drugs in Queensland
Drug Offences and Penalties in Queensland
Which Queensland Court will Hear Drug Offences
Parties to Drug Offences Committed Outside Queensland
Police Powers in Queensland
Drug Analysis Certificates
Alternatives to Terms of Imprisonment for Drug Offences in Queensland
The use of dangerous drugs in Queensland is regulated by:
The main Commonwealth drug offences are contained in the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) (Cth Criminal Code). Regulatory offences, such as importing or exporting prohibited narcotics in breach of a licence or permission, remain in the Customs Act 1901 (Cth).
Many of the offences contained in the Cth Criminal Code are similar to those under state legislation, although some of the Commonwealth offences have different dimensions addressing federal issues such as importation and exportation crimes. The offence provisions in the Cth Criminal Code intend to complement existing state and territory laws, not override them.
Offences against the Commonwealth laws can be dealt with by state courts.