Not a smart move? Nutmeg, church incense and some so-called smart drugs have been proposed as exceptions to a new drug law that will be debated by UK Members of Parliament on 20 January.
The Psychoactive Substances Bill is intended to ban legal highs – chemicals designed to mimic the effects of illegal drugs such as ecstasy and cannabis. They are usually sold online or in high-street stores called head shops.
If enacted, the bill would prohibit the production and sale of substances that affect normal brain function. It is aimed at stopping the “cat and mouse game” of new compounds being invented as fast as they can be made illegal, says government minister Mike Penning.
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He says that enacting it would fundamentally change the way we tackle new psychoactive substances. But it has come under fire from some MPs, including Paul Flynn, who describes it as “legislative garbage”. Part of the problem is that the bill might accidentally ban many harmless substances that could affect the mind, such as perfumes that are claimed to boost mood.
Alcohol, nicotine and caffeine have all been put on a “white list” of substances that will be exempt from the new regulations, but MPs have been proposing a lengthening list of further exceptions, including homeopathic remedies. The latest call for exemption, by Cheryl Gillan, involves several “smart” drugs, including a group called racetams, which are claimed to be beneficial for cognitive ability.
Debated substances
Vaughan Bell of University College London says there is little evidence to show these smart drugs work, and that the few studies carried out so far are either small or non-placebo-controlled. “It wouldn’t stack up to persuade researchers or regulators,” says Bell.
However, Gillan says she wants to hear the merits of these substances discussed. She made the proposed amendment at the request of some of her constituents, including someone who sells these products.
It’s possible, though, that not all of these amendments will make it into the final bill, and Gillan’s proposal may not be considered for debate next week.
As well as sparking a flurry of proposed exemptions, critics say the bill could perversely raise the dangers of legal highs by pushing users to switch to street sellers or illegal internet sites. “This is the government acting tough, not intelligently,” says Flynn. “It’s like prohibition of alcohol – it will almost certainly do no good.”
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