Poppers reportedly escape banning in the Psychoactive Substances Bill

After passing the Psychoactive Substances Bill in January, government ministers indicated that alkyl nitrite aka poppers would be among the banned drugs.

This caused outcry from the gay community who commonly use the substance as a sex enhancer, raising the argument alongside manufacturers that poppers' effect on the brain is minimal.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs seems to agree, writing to Theresa May that they do not believe poppers fall under the definition of psychoactive substances written into the bill since they only have a “peripheral” effect on the brain.

They said: “In the ACMD’s view, alkyl nitrites (poppers) do not fall within the scope of the current definition of a “psychoactive substance” in the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. Consequently, the ACMD does not see a need for an exemption under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.”

The implication of this appears to be that poppers will remain legal when the bill comes into law on April 1, despite the government believing they were covered by the ban.

Home Office miniter Karen Bradley said: “We have noted the advice of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and we intend to respond shortly.”

[Via: Dazed & The Guardian]

Patrick Hinton is Mixmag’s Digital Intern, follow him on Twitter here