UK - Make legal highs available for sale, government urged

[edgarshade]

The Guardian

Alan Travis, home affairs editor
Monday 14 January 2013

The least harmful new "legal highs" should be made readily available for sale under strictly regulated conditions rather than being immediately banned as happens now, according to a cross-party group of peers.

Senior police officers told the inquiry into the new psychoactive synthetic drugs, which are appearing in Britain at the rate of more than one a week, that the existing criminal sanctions for drug users is doing nothing to reduce their use.

Chief constable Tim Hollis, who chairs the Association of Chief Police Officers drugs committee, said the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act was not well positioned to deal with the more complex drugs scene which now exists in Britain.

"The solution to the particular challenges of legal highs does not lie in adding inexorably to the list of illicit substances," said Hollis. The police say the speed at which new substances are being produced and made available and marketed means existing laws are being overtaken. They said that party invitations circulating on smart phones now include a weblink to a supplier of legal highs.

The report published on Monday by the House of Lords all-party parliamentary group on drug policy reform, chaired by the crossbench peer, Baroness Meacher, says it would be far more effective to adopt a New Zealand initiative and ask trading standards officers to test and regulate the supply of low-risk legal highs.

"Under these controls suppliers would, as is planned in New Zealand, be limited to certain outlets and required to label their product with a clear description of its contents, its risks and the maximum advisable dose. The supplier would also be responsible for assuring that their product causes only limited harms," says their report adding that the system would encourage young people to avoid the unknown and therefore more dangerous alternatives. Sales to minors and advertising would be banned.

The inquiry group which includes Conservatives Lord Mancroft and Lord Norton, and crossbenchers, Baroness Stern and Lord Cobbold, say the current system of 12-month temporary banning orders to control each new legal high while the government's drug experts establish how dangerous they are does little to protect users.

"The greatest risk to young people from new psychoactive substances derives from the absence of reliable information about the contents and strength of each substance and its effects both short and long term," says the report.

"The name of the substance may tell a user little about its contents, and the contents may change from week to week. The more substances are banned the more are created and the greater uncertainties for consumers."

More...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/14/legal-highs-available-sale-government

 

[edgarshade]

From the Sun

Make crack and heroin legal in UK

With reader comments

HEROIN, crack cocaine and cannabis should be decriminalised, a radical Parliamentary report will demand today. And legal highs, such as danger party drug meow meow, should be sold in specially-licensed SHOPS. The explosive proposals, which would make hard drugs legal, are drawn up in a report on drug policy reform.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4742395/Make-crack-and-heroin-legal-in-UK.html

The Independent also offers reader comments
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-peers-to-legalise-lowrisk-drugs-8449910.html

 

[7zark7]

…and the BBC: Decriminalise drugs, inquiry by cross-party peers says

 

[7zark7]

From The Guardian: "The first legal highs to be banned in Britain were mephedrone, known as "miaow miaow" and methoxetamine, known as "mexxy", which largely imitate the effects of cannabis."

erm… what?

 

[Cambo]

From The Guardian: "The first legal highs to be banned in Britain were mephedrone, known as "miaow miaow" and methoxetamine, known as "mexxy", which largely imitate the effects of cannabis."

erm… what?

There was me thinking the Guardian was one of the better newspapers...

 

[edgarshade]

Here's the Daily Mail version

Taking drugs is like having a cup of coffee, says peer who wants ecstasy sold in chemists for 'determined' teenagers

With reader comments
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ee-says-peer-wants-ecstasy-sold-chemists.html


According to the Telegraph, the government have responded

Downing Street rejects calls to decriminalise drugs
David Cameron has rejected calls from a group of peers to allow teenagers to buy drugs over-the-counter in chemists.

With reader comments
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9800676/Downing-Street-rejects-calls-to-decriminalise-drugs.html

 

[Cambo]

There is a greater chance of the second coming of Jesus happening, him taking over the world and legalising drugs, than David Cameron doing it.

 

[edgarshade]

Here's an article by Molly Meacher herself.

Guardian

Molly Meacher
Monday 14 January 2013 17.13 GMT

With reader comments

The all-party parliamentary group on drug policy reform wants legal highs to be regulated and drugs classified on real evidence.



Current drug policies present significant risks to Britain's young people. Traditional drugs are in the hands of criminal gangs and often if a young person goes to a dealer asking for a low risk variety of cannabis, the dealer will try and persuade them to buy something "much more exciting". Criminal suppliers also have every incentive to adulterate the drugs in order to enhance the profits – cutting agents are at times seriously dangerous. Legal highs, meanwhile, are in the hands of unscrupulous scientists in China who create their concoctions in laboratories, advertise them on the web and send them over to unsuspecting young people in Britain and elsewhere.

After 40 years of a drug policy built on the assumption that we can create a "drug-free world" while drug use increased exponentially – cannabis use has increased 20-fold in 40 years – we have to accept that many young people will use drugs, whether they are legal or not. Indeed some are attracted to taking a substance because it is banned. We will never eliminate drug use. As a Downing Street strategy unit report concluded in 2003, so long as there is a lucrative market for drugs in rich countries, and large numbers of easily exploited farmers in poor countries, it will be almost impossible for us to reduce substantially the quantity of drugs produced.

The all-party parliamentary group on drug policy reform undertook an inquiry into the implications of the arrival of "legal highs" – a new substance appeared on the UK market every week in 2012. We had evidence from 31 governmental organisations; other bodies like the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), regulatory bodies and individual drug scientists. We were surprised by the degree of consensus on the need for reform of drug policy; the fact that the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 simply cannot cope with the modern polydrug culture; and the impossibility of effectively controlling the supply of "legal highs" using existing legislative instruments.

Our inquiry panel of nine peers from all the main political parties recommend three significant reforms. First, to introduce a Class D for the least harmful drugs (legal highs initially) which would be controlled through regulation. The suppliers of these Class D drugs would be responsible for showing that their produce causes only limited harms to the user (they would be much safer than alcohol or tobacco, for example). The supply would be regulated and tough conditions on age limits, packaging and labelling applied. Such a policy is being introduced inNew Zealand and should, in our view be a priority for Britain where we have twice the use of "legal highs" as the rest of Europe.

Second, decriminalisation of the possession and use of small quantities of any drug is overdue in this country. Portugal introduced such a policy more than a decade ago. Instead of spending large sums on imprisoning young people, taxpayers' money has been spent on treatment. The result has been that fewer young people use or abuse drugs in Portugal than in neighbouring countries. More are in treatment and less in prison.

Finally, we need an evidence-based classification of drugs. This can only be achieved if the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs becomes an independent decision-making body. Politicians should retain responsibility for overall drugs policy but scientific assessments and decisions relating to individual drugs should be made by the scientists. The level of risk should be the only criteria determining the class of a drug.

The prime minister says the current policy is working. I wish it were. But as the use of cannabis has declined by a few percentage points over the past few years, the use of "legal highs" has soared. The position for drugs users is therefore more dangerous than it was a few years ago. ACPO and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs say that the current system is ill-equipped to deal with the modern drugs world. I think the prime minister knows this very well.

We recommend a senior crossparty working group to develop the proposals put forward by the inquiry. These policies are evidence-based and will reduce the level of drug harm in Britain.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/14/decriminalise-drugs

 

[pete+carl]

UK- Make crack and heroin legal in UK

HEROIN, crack cocaine and cannabis should be decriminalised, a radical Parliamentary report will demand today.

And legal highs, such as danger party drug meow meow, should be sold in specially-licensed SHOPS.

The explosive proposals, which would make hard drugs legal, are drawn up in a report on drug policy reform.

High-profile members of the all-party group behind the plans include ex-Tory Chancellor Lord Lawson, former MI5 chief Baroness Manningham-Buller and former Labour defence secretary Bob Ainsworth.

They call for the possession and use of small amounts of all narcotics to be decriminalised, including hard drugs such as heroin.

It points to a similar policy in Portugal, saying there is “no evidence” it has led to an increase in drug use and has “reduced” addiction in young people.

On legal highs, the report says the UK should learn from New Zealand, where sales are regulated. It suggests the drugs be sold through licensed “outlets” — with suppliers responsible for proving they have “an agreed low risk of harm”.

The legal highs would be sold in cigarette-style packaging, spelling out risks to users.

The group also calls for more drug prevention work in schools — and says existing laws do not work.Chairwoman Baroness Meacher said: “The Misuse of Drugs Act is counter-productive in attempting to reduce drug addiction and oth- er drug harms to young people.”

Deputy PM Nick Clegg recently told The Sun Britain’s drug laws need sweeping reforms. But David Cameron insists the laws do work and the number of drug users is falling.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4742395/Make-crack-and-heroin-legal-in-UK.html

intresting and rather radical approach so fingers crossed a change in attitude may be occuring

however once again the readers comments are rather comical,
" torchlabour 0 likes
Lets make murder and rape legal too .... cretins!!"

 

[23536]

danger party drug meow meow

What is a danger party?

 

[edgarshade]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4742395/Make-crack-and-heroin-legal-in-UK.html

intresting and rather radical approach so fingers crossed a change in attitude may be occuring

however once again the readers comments are rather comical,
" torchlabour 0 likes
Lets make murder and rape legal too .... cretins!!"

The comments seem unusually weighted in favour of prohibition today. It usually goes the other way. I haven't had anything I've posted published yet. I haven't posted anything unreasonable. I think the comments are loaded today.

 

[Doctor_Ew420]

Danger parties? They sound fucking awesome!!!

But really, this is really interesting.... I wonder... *strokes beard*

 

[poledriver]

Britain 'impressed' with NZ's legal high laws

New Zealand's regime for approving so-called "legal highs" could become a template for British regulations, with a government committee there recommending key parts of new legislation be adopted.

A report by Britain's All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform has recommended Westminster should adopt "the key features of the New Zealand policy" - that the onus of proving legal highs have a "low risk of harm" should be put on the manufacturers.

Last year Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne announced plans to force manufacturers of legal highs to undergo a lengthy and potentially expensive testing process before the products could be sold in New Zealand.

While the details of the testing are to be finalised, the Government has signalled a hefty application fee and an extensive testing regime, akin to that required for approving new pharmaceuticals.

Breaches of the rules, due to come into force in August, could see manufacturers jailed for up to eight years.

The British drug reform committee, chaired by Baroness Meacher, is "impressed" by New Zealand's approach.

"They have examined the best available knowledge about the harms of particular psychoactive substances," the British committee's report said.

"They encourage suppliers to focus on product safety, and restriction of supply to protect vulnerable consumers, particularly young people."

Dunne said today he was not surprised by the report's findings with one of the committee members "making positive noises" about the approach during a visit late last year.

Other countries were also watching the new regime with interest.

"We're getting a lot of enquiries from Britain, various states in Australia, jurisdictions in the United States, about the regime," Dunne said.

"They all see it as being quite innovative, and a world first really, in terms of how to address the issue."

The existing legislation allows substances to be banned for 12 months, but manufacturers have managed to reformulate their products to circumvent the rules.

"You can keep banning this stuff, but the 12-month ban only gives you breathing space - it's not a solution long term," Dunne said.

"You have to have a mechanism beyond that."

It appears, however, that Britain's willingness to follow New Zealand's approach on drug laws will not be reciprocal.

Another part of the British report on drug reform recommends that some "low harm" drugs, specifically cannabis and ecstasy, be licensed for sale in pharmacies in an attempt to lure young people away from alcohol and more dangerous legal highs.

"That's not on the government's agenda here," Dunne said today.

The Government would consider a report from the Law Commission on the Misuse of Drugs Act, which made recommendations about the application of penalties, with the existing rules designed in the 1970s.

"But frankly I wouldn't see the Government moving too far, if at all, from its current position regarding the legality of those drugs," Dunne said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/8179402/Britain-impressed-with-NZs-legal-high-laws

 

[rickolasnice]

Couldn't help but comment

On The Suns article, that is.

 

[edgarshade]

More rays from the Sun

Ecstasy ‘is safer than fags, booze and coffee’

ECSTASY is safer for teenagers than booze, fags and even coffee, a peer declared yesterday. Former social worker Baroness Meacher called on youngsters to switch from binge drinking to narcotics. The Sun told yesterday how a powerful Parliamentary group, which she chairs, called for the decriminalisation of ecstasy, heroin and even crack cocaine.

The crossbencher said: “No drug is completely safe — coffee’s not safe. Some drugs are a good deal safer than tobacco and alcohol. A lot of young people are drinking far too much. Get them to switch to something rather safer.” She said ecstasy was one drug that was a “great deal safer” than booze and fags. But Tory MP Philip Davies said: “I’m not sure the last time someone dropped dead from drinking coffee but there are examples of people dropping dead from ecstasy. She seems to be talking a lot of nonsense. It sends an irresponsible message.”

Official estimates show there have been 200 ecstasy-related deaths in the UK since 1996. From 2009 to 2010 there were 8,790 booze-fuelled fatalities. Smoking kills 80,000 people a year.

David Cameron’s spokesman said: “The PM’s view is that the approach we currently have is the right one and is working.”

But the British Medical Association will today declare that Britain’s drug laws are deterring addicts from seeking medical help.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...tasy-is-safer-than-fags-booze-and-coffee.html

 

[rickolasnice]

I don't think my comments are being approved

This is what they basically say:

NSFW:

vengey.. The fact you can still feel the affects 12 hours later (not the high, but the 'comedown' is why MDMA (pure ecstasy) is harder to abuse. People don't WANT to take it 2 - 3 days in a row.. if they do.. they will regret it.. not for ever.. but they will.People seem to forget that these reports being done are written by people who have bothered putting the time into researching it. The studies being done are done by people who know a lot more about it than you or I. We can all sit there and regurgitate what the media has been telling us for so long.. but all your doing is denying the evidence.. or atleast not bothering to put the time and effort into researching it.

englishmonkey..open a world of problems? We are ALREADY in a world of problems!

A lot of the harm inflicted is because of the war on drugs. Adulterants, varying purities (leading to accidental overdoses), giving control and profits to criminal gangs, the risk of a criminal record which can and does ruin peoples futures, the lack of proper education on the subject, the taboo aspect (addicts less likely to seek help), etc etc.. the list is endless. And what exactly has been gained? Lives lost. Rich and powerful criminals. Billions and billions of pounds thrown down the drain. Yeah, sure, it's working great. A lot of the things you hear about cannabis and psychiatric disorders are misleading. Don't get me wrong, i believe it can cause some negative personality changes, make problems worse and bring disorders out.. as does school, time, the media, so on and so on. Take the time to learn the difference between causation and correlation. And again, lack of education and the taboo behind it does not help.

If people want to take drugs, they will, regardless of legality. Why not take control and power from the criminal gangs and into the hands of the government.

Drug education (not propaganda) should be taught through-out school. You should be able to get a license, much like a driving license, after completing an education course on drugs and drug safety after reaching a certain age. You should then be able to use this card to buy certain amounts of drugs.

People will take drugs regardless of their legality. Is it not about time we took the regulation, profits and complete control over the market out of the hands of criminal gangs and into the hands of the governments?

Edit- Ah I think they made it.

 

[edgarshade]

Had a bit of trouble getting the "like" button to work. Sorry if that resulted in lots of notification emails. Got there in the end!

 

[rickolasnice]

No problem

Now this post has not been approved multiple time.. i think they must be a drinker

Kanchelskis1.. Why do you think there'd be a massive increase in drug taking? If somebody wants to take drugs, they either will, or already do.

'What makes you think that society would break down? Alcohol causes A LOT more social harm than MDMA. Walk through a city centre at closing time.. Fights, accidents, criminal damage, etc etc.'

By the way.. anyone who agrees with my post - feel free to copy + paste it to any future articles.

 

[Methox23]

I miss Mephedrone and Methox....

 

[phenethylo J]

Why don't they just make stuff like cannabis, ketamine, mdma, lsd, mushrooms, ect legal instead of this new crap that is more dangerous and has a way shorter history of human consumption and research about long term effects.