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LGA calls for updated laws to tackle ‘legal highs’ – some more potent than illicit drugs

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Speaking ahead of the Psychoactive Substances Bill, which enters Committee Stage in the House of Lords today, Cllr Ann Lucas, Chairman of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said:

“Councils desperately need new powers to crack-down on the sale of new psychoactive substances which are untested, unpredictable and are linked to a growing number of deaths.

“These are not legal highs they are lethal highs. They can be more potent and harmful than the illegal drugs they are trying to mimic and yet they are becoming increasingly acceptable in our society.

“Legal highs are available in our high streets, in so called ‘head shops’, and in some towns nitrous oxide, known as ‘hippy crack’, can be delivered to your door like a pizza.

“Council trading standards teams are leading the way in tackling the problem but the existing legislation, requiring substances to be banned on a case-by-case basis, cannot keep pace with the rate new substances are produced.

“The LGA strongly supports a Psychoactive Substances Bill that would ban the production, distribution, sale and supply of these substances which, unlike alcohol and tobacco, are available unrestricted and to children.

“The LGA is eager to work with the Government to bring the law up to speed, protect communities and highlight the risk of these substances to their residents, especially young people.

“In addition, we encourage continued monitoring of the impact of a ban, both in the UK and Ireland, to ensure a solid evidence base is readily available for future reviews of this legislation.

“However, if the definition of psychoactive substances could capture unintended items, like incense, then consideration should be given to adding those substances to the list of exemptions.”

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