Blaney welcomes immediate criminal ban on listed head shop products
The immediate criminal ban on several head shop products is welcome news according to local Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney. 11/05/10“The Government has ordered that a number of substances known as ‘legal highs’ are now to be classified as controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, This will have immediate effect following approval by the relevant EU authorities.”
“It was important that the Government identified and banned the substances of these legal highs as otherwise it would have been possible to merely rename the products.”
“The Order also controls a number of substances that are not ‘legal highs’ but have the potential to be misused.”
“There will now be very strong sanctions for selling these proscribed legal highs including up to 7 years imprisonment and or a fine for unlawful possession and on indictment up to a maximum period of life imprisonment for unlawful supply.”
“Those who own and run headshops must now safely dispose of every product containing even one of the substances detailed under the newly proscribed list. Failure to comply will raise the risk of criminal prosecution from today the 11th of May.”
“The full list of banned substances has been published on the Department of Health website at www.dohc.ie.”
“In addition the Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern TD has brought forward proposals to Government to make it a criminal offence to sell or supply substances that are not prohibited under the Misuse of Drugs Act but that have psychoactive effects.”
“I am confident that local Gardaí will enforce this new law rigorously.”
“The availability of these very dangerous substances have caused huge anxiety to families and communities in Donegal.”
“The banning of these substances will send a very clear message, particularly to those who considered that these legal highs were not dangerous because they could be bought over the counter.”
“This could not be further from the truth as many tragic and distressing cases of young people in particular becoming severely ill due to taking these substances.”
“I am pleased that the Government took a comprehensive approach to the issue of headshops. It was important to take considered decisions that would not allow those who profit from selling legal highs to avail of loopholes in any legislation. I am confident that these moves by the Government today will have very positive results,” concluded Niall Blaney TD.
