The jury is out.  As the pressure mounts from the public and media, the ACMD provided its report to the Home Secretary last night recommending that mephedrone should be classified as Class B drugs.  Alan Johnson announced they are set to ban mephedrone and other synthetic ‘legal highs’ (as with synthetic cannabinoids) in a matter of weeks whose aim is to prevent manufacturers from producing further similar harmful drugs so they “can be in the forefront of dealing with this whole family of drugs”.

Alan Johnson also announces that he is “seeking cross-party support to swiftly ban these dangerous drugs from [UK] streets”.

The importation of mephedrone and its related products has now been banned with immediate effect. The UK Border Agency have been instructed to seize and destroy shipments of these drugs into the country.  Shops and websites selling the drug in various forms will be warned.

Class B drugs include cannabis and amphetamine sulphate, carrying with it imprisonment of up to five years for possession and up to 14 years for dealing.

Expect the banning process as follows:

1. Home Secretary announces intention to ban
2. Parliamentary business committees formed
3. Proposal laid in Parliament
4. Debate and vote in each House
5. Approval by Privy Council