Drug Promotion in Jordan: Definition, Elements and Penalties

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law defines “distribution or promotion” as delivering, or attempting to deliver, narcotic drugs, preparations or psychotropic substances in any form or by any means for distribution, circulation or facilitating dealings among users, whether for payment or without payment, outside legally authorised circumstances.

Law No. 24 of 2021 amended Article 2 to include conduct whether compensated or not, Payment is therefore not required by that definition, but the alleged conduct, its context and the law applicable to the particular facts still need examination.

Article 15 addresses promotion and mediation in promotion by any form or means, This is a general explanation of the legislation, not a conclusion that particular conduct constitutes an offence.

The issues to be established depend on the statutory definition, the offence provision and the evidence in the particular file, The label “promotion” alone does not decide a case, Key practical issues include:

The law treats different conduct under different provisions, Possession or custody for personal use has its own rules, while the promotion provision concerns delivery, attempted delivery and mediation under Article 2's definition, Finding a substance or being present at a location does not, by itself, resolve the legal classification.

The statutory definition of promotion does not set a numerical quantity that conclusively proves the offence by itself, Quantity must be considered with the other circumstances and evidence; a figure from another case cannot determine the outcome of an individual file.

Depending on the case file, review may include laboratory identification and the applicable schedule, seizure and search records, the circumstances in which an item was found, witness accounts, messages or digital data and their attribution, and evidence relating to delivery, attempted delivery or mediation.

Each item must be assessed in context, including how it was obtained and what it proves, A message, cash or an association between people does not by itself settle the charge without evaluating the remaining facts, Relevant procedures and decisions should also be checked at the current stage, These review topics do not mean that one concern automatically dismisses a charge or guarantees a result.

Article 15(A) provides for temporary hard labour for not less than five years and a fine of not less than JOD 5,000 for promoting narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or preparations, or mediating their promotion, The provision sets a higher penalty where the offence involves a minor, a minor is used to commit it, or the substance is promoted to a minor; it also contains a specific rule concerning repetition.

These are statutory terms, not a prediction about an individual case, Determining the applicable offence and penalty requires reviewing the law in force at the relevant time, the substance, the charge and the circumstances established in the file.

Find out the exact charge, the authority handling the matter and its procedural stage, Organise notices, decisions and documents lawfully available to you, and explain the facts fully to a lawyer, Do not destroy messages or records, or publish case papers and personal information online.

Legal advice starts with reviewing the file, evidence and procedure, It cannot guarantee acquittal, release or a specific timeframe, The lawyer should explain the scope of work and the basis for any proposed step.

Through Aburabie Law Office in Amman, Abdelhalim Aburabie handles drug and State Security Court matters as an independent defence lawyer, You may request a free initial consultation with a brief, non-sensitive summary and ask how documents can be reviewed and what any instruction would cover.

The free initial consultation does not automatically include ongoing case work or court representation, and sending a message does not confirm that the office has accepted an instruction, Any additional scope and fees should be agreed before work begins.