Government to introduce new temporary bans for 'legal' highs

The government has announced that it will introduce new 12-month temporary bans for use against so-called 'legal highs' to enable the authorities to respond more quickly to apparently dangerous substances being used as drugs.

Substances would be temporarily banned following initial consideration by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). The ACMD will then conduct a comprehensive review of the harms of the substance and advise whether it should be permanently banned.

The bans will enable police to confiscate suspected substances and the UK Border Agency will seize shipments entering the country. The penalty for supply will be a maximum of 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine. Possession of a temporarily banned substance for personal use would not be a criminal offence to prevent the unnecessary criminalisation of young people.

The 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 or what is in it - especially when some are claimed to be pond cleaner or bath salts."

The introduction of the bans will require legislation and the government says that the system of temporary bans will be introduced by the end of next year, subject to parliamentary approval.