Is it legal in Turkey? Drug law, penalties and sources

What article 191 says, and what it then does

Article 191(1) of the Turkish Penal Code provides that a person who buys, accepts or possesses a narcotic or stimulant substance for use, or who uses one, is punished with imprisonment of two to five years.

Article 191(2) then provides that in the investigation started for this offence, a decision is made to defer the opening of the public case for five years, without the conditions in article 171 of the Code of Criminal Procedure being sought. The Turkish is ertelenmesine karar verilir, a decision is made. It is not a power the prosecutor may exercise and it does not depend on the usual statutory conditions being satisfied.

So the sentence in the first subsection is not what ordinarily happens to a first time user. Quoting two to five years as the Turkish answer describes a provision that the next subsection displaces by default.

What happens instead is supervision and testing

Article 191(3) provides that during the deferral period the suspect is subject to a probation measure for at least one year. That period may be extended in six month increments, on the proposal of the probation directorate or by the prosecutor's own decision, by up to two further years. A person under the measure may be made subject to treatment if that is considered necessary.

The same subsection requires the prosecutor to refer the suspect to the relevant institution at least twice a year during the deferral period, to establish whether they have been using a narcotic or stimulant substance.

The prosecutor also warns the suspect at the outset about the consequences that may follow for them if they do not comply with the obligations imposed during the deferral period or if they breach the prohibitions.

And the code rewards disclosure before it rewards anything else

Article 192 provides that a person who bought, accepted or possessed a substance for use, and who before the authorities learn of it informs them from whom, where and when they obtained it, in a way that makes it easier to catch the offenders or to seize the substance, is not sentenced at all.

The same article provides that a person who uses a narcotic or stimulant substance and who, before an investigation is started against them, applies to the official authorities or to a health institution and asks to be treated, is not sentenced. A sentence added in 2016 provides that in that situation public officials and members of the health professions do not come under the reporting duty in articles 279 and 280.

What each provision carries

Every substance confirmed against a primary source

45 substances have a status for Turkey verified against a named statute. Each row links to the full entry, with the consequences, the prescription position and the source.

Not separately listed

Sources

• Türk Ceza Kanunu, Kanun No. 5237, arts. 188 to 192 The official consolidated text, consulted 16 September 2026.

Statute text on this page is quoted from the copies linked above. Last verified October 9, 2026.