'Poor man's cocaine' could be banned
HOME Secretary Alan Johnson last night signalled that so-called "legal highs" could be banned as early as next month.
A decision on the status of herbal drugs, including mephedrone, will be made soon after a report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD).
It comes after Westcountry parents issued a stark warning that mephedrone, also known as "bounce" and "meow meow", was becoming increasingly prominent among young people.
Detective Constable Sid Willett, a drug liaison officer with Devon and Cornwall Police, said officers were playing "cat and mouse" with suppliers.
Mephedrone has been dubbed "poor man's cocaine" for its similar effect to Ecstasy or cocaine and belongs to the cathinone class of drugs.
It comes in powder and tablet form often sold as plant food and users can suffer nosebleeds, burns, palpitations, insomnia and memory problems.
ACMD chairman Professor Les Iversen yesterday said he was alarmed at the rate it had become popular.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Johnson said the ACMD, which advises Government on drug-related issues, was treating the issue as an "absolute priority" and was "moving as quickly as they can".
He added the committee was "trying to ensure that they are not just dealing with mephedrone, they are dealing with the whole generic group so that we can't be fooled by the manufacturers moving around".
Several MPs pressed the minister on the need to ban mephedrone after a decision to outlaw other legal highs including GBL, BZP and herbal mixtures that mimic cannabis.
The ACMD is expected to receive advice on February 22 and make a decision in early March.
The chairman of the council, Professor Les Iversen, moved yesterday to warn young people about the dangers of the drug.
He told the Times: "There are waves of fashion. Cannabis is going out of fashion, whereas legal highs are attractive.
"The problem with legal highs is they seem to crop up with increasing frequency. It has become a very lucrative business.
"The one we have our sights on at the moment is mephedrone which six months ago, hardly anybody was talking about."
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by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 2:02PM
“:| One of the very few sensible things the Labour Home Secretary has ever done was to Sack Professor David Nutt from Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. .”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 1:51PM
“:| You are obviously a follower of Professor David Nutt Adam so we will NEVER agree. . If you want the truth about ALL drugs AND alcohol, talk to the ladies of KWADS . . (Knowle West Alcohol and Drugs Service.) . . If you abuse any 'food' even chocolate it can have harmful effects. . But people don't ever take to selling their bodies on the street just to get another drink or another bar of chocolate. . Remember that. . And for every case of a medicinal cannabis claimed success, there is at least one where it's has condemned them and finished them off. . At least MODERATE Alcohol consumption helps protect the efficacy of the BBB. . (The membrane that is Blood Brain Barrier.) . Legal Highs as you call them are the modern curse. . I believe all those who produce and peddle them should be permanently incarcerated for trying to destroy our humanity. . Best Charles”
by adam, Plymouth
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 12:52PM
“Dear Charles,
My claim that Cannabis is safer than these legal highs is correct, it is a scientific fact which has been proven beyond any doubt by the ACMD ( Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs )
If the ACMD say Cannabis is a relatively safe drug, much safer than Alcohol or Tobacco then you can take there word for it.
As for your statement about Cannabis being a "pseudo" medicine>
A British company GW Pharmaceuticals grow and profit from "skunk" Cannabis and make medicines from this plant ( Sativex ) which are distributed world wide.
There are 13 states in America where Medical Marijuana is prescribed in herbal form to millions of Americans for hundreds of medical conditions. Those medical conditions are controlled successfully with this "pseudo" medicine as you put it.
Back to the point of this story, I agree we should ban these 'legal highs" at least until they have been evaluated for there impact on peoples health, if they turn out to be safe ( which I doubt they will ) then legalize them again.”
by Easy come, Easy go
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 9:50AM
“Comments like Prohibition DOES NOT WORK is what really does not help. Junkies are junkies end of”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 9:07AM
“:| On a Police program last evening they showed a squad car pulling behind a car in night traffic and the driver being so alarmed by the strong smell of cannabis coming from it that he decided to pull the car over. . The car reeked of cannabis and the passenger was smoking a spliff or 'joint'. . On searching the car is had a large stash of different tablets. . These people were clearly dealers. . The final outcome was that they escaped with a warning because their 'stash' was all 'legal' substances. . The Law is an @ss and if Adam is trying to tell us that he thinks Cannabis is a safe substance to use, (even as a pseudo medication), then so is he.”
by E, pz
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 6:38PM
“how many violent crimes have been committed while on this drug? VERY few, or none..... How many committed due to alcohol??? I rest my case. Let people have their fun, making it illegal is asking for trouble, people sneaking around, meeting people they don't know and handing over cash. Also if it isn't readily available, 'dealers' may cut it with other things to bulk it out, which could be almost anything, causing more problems for the user. Maybe making carrying a certain amount could be an offence, which could be seen as intent to supply, but a bit for personal use should be just issued a warning. People know not to take it to clubs anyway, they aren't entirely stupid. It is also hard to overdose on, if you stop taking it, the effects wear off within an hour. Stories of people dying or O.D-ing have obviously been taking other substances at the same time and have just reacted badly to the mixture or chemicals. KNOW YOUR LIMITS, STAY SAFE. HAVE FUN..!!!”
by Steve, Cornwall
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 4:43PM
“Prohibition DOES NOT WORK! The fact that people enjoy taking substances as a form of escapism isn't going to change. Whether it's alchohol, mephedrone or any of the other substances that are available, making it illegal puts it in the hands of criminals.”
by UCB, Helston
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 4:02PM
“I wholeheartedly agree with you Dooby, I too think it's time this government pulled it's own scrotum off.”
by Bruno Brookes, Shatner's Bassoon
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 3:44PM
“I've heard of this new drug coming over from the Czech Republic called Cake. It causes "Czech Neck". One girl threw up her own pelvis bone.”
by Robert, Liskeard
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 3:25PM
“I think the government should be more worried about alcohol abuse rather than recreational drugs, and I don't mean put the price up either because that would penalise the sensible drinker.”