Ban on legal highs comes into force

A ban on legal highs in the UK has come into force today, with the production, distribution, sale and supply of the substances now criminalised. 

The substances, sold under names such as spice and black mamba, are designed to give users the same effect as drugs such as cannabis and cocaine.

Legal highs were linked to more than 100 deaths in the UK and a rise in violent assaults in prison last year.

RELATED CONTENT 

Blanket ban on 'legal highs' is 'fanciful and fraught with difficulties', claims former Justice Secretary

'Legal highs': where do we go from here?

Police will also be able to shut down 'head shops' stores - which sells drug paraphernalia - and online dealers in the UK under the legislation.

Those convicted of breaking the new laws will face up to seven years in prison under the Psychoactive Substances Act.

Tory MSP Ross Thomson welcome the new law, which he said could spell the end for 'head shops'.

Thomson said: “I have been pushing for changes to legislation for two years now and I am pleased to see the Psychoactive Substances Act coming into force.
 
“These lethal substances are causing serious problems in our society – with horrendous reports from NHS practitioners, social workers and our prison service about the serious impact that so-called legal highs can have. 
 
“The shops that have been selling these substances have continued to operate or have popped up again when any local enforcement action has been taken.
 
“Now, thanks to the powers in the new legislation, it will be an offence to supply these substances with serious consequences for those who break the law.
 
“I hope that we will now see these shops disappearing from our streets, but we cannot afford to be complacent. There have been concerns raised that the problem could be driven underground and we must ensure that young people are well-educated on the dangers inherent in experimenting with these harmful and dangerous substances.”