UK legal high ban to come into play on May 26

The Psychoactive Substances Act is going to be introduced on May 26, banning the trade of legal highs in the United Kingdom.

Originally planned to come into play at the beginning of April, it's introduction was delayed as the definition of a psychoactive substance was "not enforceable by the police." Poppers initially fell under the blanket ban, but were later removed after advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Once launched, psychoactive substances such as synthetic cannabis and laughing gas will no longer be able to be sold on the high street, in establishments known as 'head shops'. However, possession won't be illegal for those outside of prison.

Home Office minister Karen Bradley said: “Psychoactive substances shatter lives and we owe it to all those who have lost loved ones to do everything we can to eradicate this abhorrent trade.

“This Act will bring to an end the open sale on our high streets of these potentially harmful drugs and deliver new powers for law enforcement to tackle this issue at every level in communities, at our borders, on UK websites and in our prisons.”

It's believed around 602 new legal highs surfaced in 2015.

[Via: the Guardian]

Dave Turner is Mixmag's Digital News Editor, follow him on Twitter