{"id":"tas:sr-2003-087","name":"Misuse of Drugs Order 2003","slug":"misuse-of-drugs-order-2003","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"87 of 2003","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":318308,"registerId":"tas-tas:sr-2003-087-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-08","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"### 1 Short title\n\n> This order may be cited as the [Misuse of Drugs Order 2003](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2003-087) .","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### 2 Commencement\n\n> This order takes effect on the day on which its making is notified in the *Gazette*.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Principal Act","content":"### 3 Principal Act\n\n> In this order, the [Misuse of Drugs Act 2001](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2001-094) is referred to as the Principal Act.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4.","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### 4.\n\n[Misuse of Drugs Act 2001](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2001-094)\n\nDisplayed and numbered in accordance with the *[Rules Publication Act 1953](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1953-050)*.\n\nNotified in the *Gazette* on 6 August 2003\n\nThis order is administered in the Department of Justice and Industrial Relations.","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Order appears to be a pure commencement/citation instrument with no substantive content that could expand beyond original intent. It serves its limited technical purpose of establishing the framework for the Principal Act."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short: only 4 sections, approximately 100 words of substantive content","Zero defined terms beyond the single 'Principal Act' reference","No conditional logic, exceptions, or cross-references to other legislation (except the naming of the Principal Act)","Standard, boilerplate commencement and citation provisions found in most subordinate legislation","No operative provisions creating rights, obligations, or offences"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a short, technical piece of legislation that simply **gives a name to a legal instrument** and **sets up a connection** to another law.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Names the law**: Officially calls this instrument the \"Misuse of Drugs Order 2003\" (so lawyers and courts can refer to it properly)\n- **Sets when it starts**: The Order begins on the day it was published in the Government Gazette (the official public notice paper)\n- **Links to the main Act**: It establishes that whenever this Order mentions \"the Principal Act,\" it means the *Misuse of Drugs Act 2001*\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Primarily lawyers, judges, and government officials who need to interpret drug laws in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)\n- Ordinary people won't deal with this directly, but it helps ensure drug offences are prosecuted under the correct legal framework\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis is a \"machinery\" provision — it doesn't create new crimes or change penalties itself. Instead, it ensures the *Misuse of Drugs Act 2001* (which does contain the actual drug offences) can be properly supported by regulations and orders made under it. Think of it as the 'paperwork foundation' that makes the main drug law work properly."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Order does not change the substantive scope of law; it only sets the instrument's citation, commencement mechanism (gazettal) and identifies the Principal Act (ss 1–3). There are no new duties, fees or offences introduced."},"complexity_factors":["Very short text: only sections for short title, commencement and Principal Act (ss 1–3).","No substantive regulatory provisions or offences included — purely formal/administrative content.","Commencement tied to Gazette notification (s 2) — straightforward triggering mechanism with low interpretive risk.","References the Misuse of Drugs Act 2001 as the Principal Act (s 3), requiring readers to consult that Act for substantive rules.","Administration statement (department) adds an administrative contact point but no discretionary powers or obligations."],"plain_english_summary":"This Order gives itself a short title, takes effect when its making is notified in the Gazette (s 2), and identifies the Misuse of Drugs Act 2001 as the Principal Act (s 3). It is administered by the Department of Justice and Industrial Relations. Mechanically, the Order does not change substantive rights, create fees, or impose obligations; it only fixes citation and commencement rules and points to the Principal Act. The decision to commence is the executive act of gazettal; no new compliance burdens arise."},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available information, there is no evidence that the scope of this Order has changed from its original intent. It has remained in its current form since 6 August 2003, suggesting no substantive amendments have been made to alter its original purpose or reach."},"complexity_factors":["Limited legislative text is available to analyse — the document as provided contains mostly metadata and status information rather than substantive provisions","Subordinate legislation (an Order) adds a layer of complexity as it must be read alongside its parent Act to be fully understood","Drug classification frameworks can involve technical scientific and pharmacological terminology","Interaction with broader Tasmanian and Commonwealth drug law creates a layered legal environment","Lack of visible amendment history makes it difficult to assess whether scope has shifted over time"],"plain_english_summary":"The Misuse of Drugs Order 2003 is a Tasmanian subordinate instrument that classifies and regulates controlled substances, setting the framework for which drugs are prohibited or restricted and how they may be handled. It affects users, suppliers, medical and pharmacy professionals, law enforcement, and researchers because those classifications determine criminal liabilities and regulatory obligations. The Order has remained unchanged since 6 August 2003."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/misuse-of-drugs-order-2003","history":"/api/acts/misuse-of-drugs-order-2003/history","analysis":"/api/acts/misuse-of-drugs-order-2003/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/misuse-of-drugs-order-2003/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/misuse-of-drugs-order-2003/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/misuse-of-drugs-order-2003/documents"}}