Uzbekistan sets an administrative penalty for small personal drug holdings

Uzbekistan’s new codes took effect on 1 April 1995 with separate paths for people holding drugs for themselves. Small quantities brought an administrative fine or up to fifteen days of detention. Larger personal holdings could lead to criminal prosecution and prison.^[1][2]

Detention survived outside the criminal code

For small quantities without intent to supply, the administrative code allowed a fine of one to two minimum monthly wages and confiscation. A judge could instead impose up to fifteen days of administrative detention, again with confiscation. Someone whose cannabis stayed within that quantity band therefore still risked being locked up.^[1]

The Soviet rules had also distinguished small holdings. A 1987 edict provided an administrative penalty first, followed by up to two years in prison for repeating the offence within a year. Its parallel rule punished repeated use without a doctor’s prescription in the same way.^[3]

Larger holdings remained criminal

The national criminal code punished holding, acquiring, making or transporting drugs without intent to supply with a fine of up to fifty minimum monthly wages, corrective work, arrest for up to six months or imprisonment for up to three years. Large quantities or a previous drug offence raised the prison range to three to five years.^[2]

Voluntary surrender offered a way out of punishment for the basic offence. The person had to turn themself in to the authorities and hand over the drugs. Handling drugs for supply fell under a separate offence with its own penalties.^[2]

Growing could bring a fine or prison

Cannabis growing remained criminal. The ordinary offence carried a fine of twenty-five to fifty minimum monthly wages, corrective work or up to three years in prison. Previous drug offending, growing with others by prior agreement, or a medium-sized growing area brought a higher penalty band. Organised or large-area growing carried five to ten years.^[2]

For comparison, the Soviet edict had set up to five years for ordinary growing of Indian hemp and the other named southern varieties, with up to eight years for aggravated cases.^[3]

Judges later explained the dividing lines

In 2017 the Supreme Court confirmed that small personal holdings belonged under administrative law. It also told judges to consider evidence of supply intent together and explained that gifts counted as supply. For growers, sowing was already a completed offence before any seeds sprouted.^[4]

The court instructed judges to consider non-prison sentences for personal holders and certain growers who could be rehabilitated without imprisonment. Those distinctions still shape the Uzbekistan profile, alongside the separate public-use penalties introduced in 2026.^[4]