Countdown begins: Kuwait set to enforce new anti-drug law in two weeks
Law will be published in the Official Gazette next Sunday
The countdown has officially begun for the implementation of Kuwait’s new anti-drug law, a sweeping legislative overhaul prepared by the judicial committee formed by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef and chaired by Counselor Mohammed Rashid Al-Duaij.
An informed source told Al-Rai that the law will be published in the Official Gazette next Sunday, and—due to its critical importance in combating narcotics—it will enter into force just two weeks after publication, a notably accelerated timeline compared to most other legislation.
According to the source, the new law closes “all procedural loopholes previously exploited by drug traffickers to escape conviction,” emphasizing that acquittals based on procedural errors “will become nearly impossible.”
He added that addiction treatment has been transformed into a mandatory requirement, rather than an optional process as in the past—an approach expected to curb demand for narcotics and strengthen preventive measures.
Key Penalties and Provisions in the New Law
The new legislation introduces some of the strictest drug-related penalties in the region, including:
Major Penalties
- 14 offenses punishable by death
- 19 offenses punishable by life imprisonment
- Dozens of offenses carrying 15-year prison terms
- Financial penalties up to 2 million Kuwaiti dinars
- Mandatory Drug Testing
Compulsory, random, and periodic testing for all government employees—men, women, and leaders alike—with no exceptions.
Severe Penalties for Distribution, Even Casually
- Death penalty for offering a hashish cigarette, Lyrica pill, or Captagon tablet to a friend—even as a gift, out of courtesy, or “just to try.”
- Execution for offering one gram of heroin or a Tramadol pill in exchange for any request or service, even lawful ones such as helping with a car ride or completing a transaction.
Other Notable Penalties
- 15 years imprisonment for slipping a narcotic or psychotropic substance into someone’s drink or food—even as a joke.
- 15 years imprisonment for organizing or hosting a private gathering where drugs are consumed, whether in a home, chalet, camp, or any other location—even if only two people are involved.
- 3 years imprisonment for accompanying a known drug user.
- 3 years imprisonment for praising the benefits of drugs—such as hashish, marijuana, or crystal meth—in conversation, private WhatsApp messages, videos, or group posts.
- 3 years imprisonment for wearing clothing or placing car stickers that promote or glorify drug use.
Protection & Family Measures
- A spouse or parent may file a confidential complaint against an addicted family member through the Sahl app, enabling authorities to arrest the addict within one hour.
- Premarital addiction testing will become mandatory—triggered unexpectedly—to prevent hiding addiction ahead of marriage, amid rising divorce rates linked to substance abuse.
