With Parliament’s approval, the government has brought a range of so-called 'legal highs' under control of the Misuse Drugs Act 1971, with effect from 23 December 2009. It aims to address the health risks associated with use of these substances, which are considered dangerous or otherwise harmful.

•  “Legal highs” are substances taken to achieve an altered state of mind (a “high”), that until recently were not controlled by the Misuse  of Drugs Act 1971 and, therefore, were legal to possess

• There are a large number of substances, some sold under brand names, known as legal highs. Some examples are: GBL[1], BZP[2], Mephedrone, and Spice

• They can be called all kinds of names, for example: Legal E, Party Pills, Fast Lane, Silver Bullet

• Some legal highs can have similar effects to stimulant or depressant drugs that are illegal, such as euphoria and reduced inhibitions.

The risks

• Risks range from reduced inhibitions, drowsiness, excited or paranoid states, coma, seizures, and death
• The risks are increased if you combine taking legal highs with alcohol or other depressant or stimulant substances
• As they are new, and the chemical make-up of many legal highs is constantly changing, the risks are unpredictable and are often still being analysed.

What does the law say?
Even though some substances were not controlled by the
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, for example, in the same way as
cannabis and cocaine are, it could still be illegal to sell, supply or
advertise them under medicines legislation.

Many suppliers use descriptions such as bath salts, plant food, research chemicals, fertiliser and cleaning fluid, or statementssuch as “not for human consumption” in order to try to get around the law.

These are GBL, and its like chemical 1,4-Butanediol (when
intended for human consumption only); BZP and its related compounds (such as mCPP, TFMPP and others); and synthetic cannabinoids (such as those found in Spice).

The Government and its advisers, the ACMD, continue to monitor the risks and harms from a variety of legal and illegal substances.

The Government is committed to take action against other so-called legal highs that pose a significant health risk.

(Extracts from "Legal highs to be illegal" article courtesy of Constabulary magazine)