"Legal Highs" could face automatic ban

A new review into the laws that govern “legal highs” could see fundamental changes to UK drug legislation.

The review announced by the Minister of State for Crime Prevention, Norman Baker today; could see UK drugs law adopt the US system which automatically bans drugs that are similar to already illegal drugs.

This would tackle the current practice of “legal high” manufacturers slightly altering the chemical make-up of drugs as bans come into force.

The government has banned over 200 substances since coming into power and has set up a Forensic Early Warning System to closely monitor the availability of these substances, but it has had a limited affect on the process.

The UK legal high market has continued to grow with more “Head shops” such as the Hush shop on Exeter’s Fore street entering UK cities and selling online.

The government has banned over 200 substances since coming into power and has set up  a Forensic Early Warning System to closely monitor the availability of these substances, but it has had a limited affect on the process.

“Head shops” such as the Hush shop on Exeter’s Fore Street typically sell the legal highs as well as assorted drugs paraphernalia.

Owners of the Hush shop in Exeter were recently convicted of intent to supply a controlled drug after they kept a stock of a recently banned chemical.

“Legal highs” known officially as “psychoactive substances” were implicated in around 52 deaths last year almost twice that of previous years.

A review panelof police, prosecutors, health experts and local council officials will publish their results in the spring of 2014.

Crime prevention minister Norman Baker said: "Despite being marketed as legal alternatives to banned drugs, users cannot be sure of what they contain and the impact they will have on their health.

"Nor can they even be sure that they are legal.

"Our review will consider how current legislation can be better tailored to enable the police and law enforcement officers to combat this dangerous trade and ensure those involved in breaking the law are brought to justice."