Legal high banned and made Class B drug

It has been announced today by the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson that the legal drug Mephedrone will be banned within weeks.

The legal high, which has been linked to up to 25 deaths in England and Scotland, will be banned and made a Class B drug – in the same category as cannabis. A ban on importing the drug will come into force today.

The announcement came after Mr Johnson was given a report backing a ban on mephedrone – also known as M-Cat or Plant Food – from Professor Les Iversen, chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Speaking at the Home Office after talks with Prof Iversen, Mr Johnson said he had accepted the council’s advice.

The ban will cover not just mephedrone but all similar substances in a group called cathinones, he said.

It is likely to come into force by the end of April, he said.

“As a result of the council’s swift advice, I am introducing legislation to ban not just mephedrone and other cathinones but also to enshrine in law a generic definition so that, as with synthetic cannabinoids, we can be in the forefront of dealing with this whole family of drugs,” he said.

“This will stop unscrupulous manufacturers and others peddling different but similarly harmful drugs.

“My department will lay the necessary Order in Parliament tomorrow.

“I am seeking cross-party support to swiftly ban these dangerous drugs from our streets.

“Parliament permitting, I hope to do this in a matter of weeks.

“In the meantime, I have today banned the importation of mephedrone, other cathinones, and all products containing these drugs with immediate effect.

“The Government is determined to crack down on these so-called legal highs and we must all play a part in ensuring children and young people know about their dangers.”