Parliament toughens penalties for possession and sale of opioids

Vehicles used to sell opioids can be confiscated, and sellers can be stripped of their right to operate a store.

The penalties for possession and resale of drugs, especially opioids, will be significantly tightened from this summer. A broad majority in the Danish Parliament on Wednesday passed the amendment, which only the Unity Party opposed, on the grounds that citizens who possess drugs for their own use should not be punished with imprisonment.

“With the support of a broad majority in the Folketing, we are now taking a decisive step towards treating opioids for what they are: The most dangerous and deadly drugs we have,” says Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard (S) in a written statement.

The legislative amendment is based on the government’s proposal ‘Youth without opioids’ from October 2024. It has a particular focus on pushers and backers. The government presented the proposal in continuation of figures from the Danish Health Data Agency, which showed an increase in the number of hospitalizations for opioid poisoning. The police have also seized record amounts of narcotics.

The campaign was also launched in reference to a serious problem with the very strong and potentially dangerous opioid fentanyl, which is widespread in the United States. Fentanyl is a synthetic painkiller that is many times stronger than morphine and heroin.

“We have seen in the US how an epidemic of opioids, and especially fentanyl, can tear a society apart. We do not want to go down that path in Denmark, and that is why we are intervening. We are making opioids the most severely punished group of drugs ever,” says Peter Hummelgaard.

The change in the law means that authorities will be able to confiscate cars and other vehicles used by drug dealers to sell drugs and opioids. For example, if opioids are sold from a store, employees could be stripped of their right to operate a store, or simply to be employed in a store.

“We do this to protect our young people and to take those who sell drugs to young people out of the game,” says Peter Hummelgaard.

The amendment to the law will enter into force on July 1 this year.

ritzau