The law is different in every country. A drug can be legal to possess in one country and illegal in another. For instance, in Ecuador, cannabis is allowed and in the United States of America it is now legal to have cannabis in most states. Some drugs are only legal to possess if you have permission (a "prescription") from a doctor to have them. If a person is caught by the police with controlled drugs they are not allowed to have, they may be taken to court. Court cases may result in fines (when one is required to pay a large sum of money to the government). One may be sent to prison. In some countries, execution is a punishment for drug possession. It is important to know what the law says about drugs in your area. African Americans are more likely to be arrested for illegal drug possession.