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20/08/2010
Temporary Ban On New 'Legal Highs'
The Government has announced plans to introduce temporary bans on any new 'legal highs'.
This would allow the police to confiscate suspected substances and the UK Border Agency to seize shipments entering the country.
Substances could then be banned for 12 months following initial consideration by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which would then conduct a comprehensive review of the harms of the substance and advise on whether it should be permanently banned.
'Legal highs' including naphyrone, mephedrone, GBL and synthetic cannabinoids have already been banned, but the government said that the new system of temporary bans would allow for a faster response.
Minister for Crime Prevention James Brokenshire said: "The drugs market is changing and we need to adapt current laws to allow us to act more quickly. The temporary ban allows us to act straight away to stop new substances gaining a foothold in the market and help us tackle unscrupulous drug dealers trying to get round the law by peddling dangerous chemicals to young people.
"However, anyone tempted to try a legal high must understand it is not safe or sensible to take a substance when you do not know what it is of what is in it - especially when some are claimed to be pond cleaner or bath salts."
The Minister said that there was "clear evidence", that substances advertised as new drugs - including Ivory Wave - often contain drugs, like mephedrone, which are already banned and known to be harmful.
The temporary bans will apply to new chemical substances that have not previously been banned.
(KMcA/BMcC)
This would allow the police to confiscate suspected substances and the UK Border Agency to seize shipments entering the country.
Substances could then be banned for 12 months following initial consideration by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which would then conduct a comprehensive review of the harms of the substance and advise on whether it should be permanently banned.
'Legal highs' including naphyrone, mephedrone, GBL and synthetic cannabinoids have already been banned, but the government said that the new system of temporary bans would allow for a faster response.
Minister for Crime Prevention James Brokenshire said: "The drugs market is changing and we need to adapt current laws to allow us to act more quickly. The temporary ban allows us to act straight away to stop new substances gaining a foothold in the market and help us tackle unscrupulous drug dealers trying to get round the law by peddling dangerous chemicals to young people.
"However, anyone tempted to try a legal high must understand it is not safe or sensible to take a substance when you do not know what it is of what is in it - especially when some are claimed to be pond cleaner or bath salts."
The Minister said that there was "clear evidence", that substances advertised as new drugs - including Ivory Wave - often contain drugs, like mephedrone, which are already banned and known to be harmful.
The temporary bans will apply to new chemical substances that have not previously been banned.
(KMcA/BMcC)
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