Push for laws to stop sale of ‘legal highs’

LEGAL alternatives to hard drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, LSD and magic mushrooms could soon be taken off the shelves.

Government TDs have expressed concern over the dangers posed by a range of mood-altering substances, newly available over the counter in Ireland, which are not mentioned in current drugs legislation.

Fianna Fáil backbench TD Peter Power says he will push for emergency legislation banning the sale of such “legal highs”.

The Department of Health, meanwhile, confirmed that its drug research board will raise will issue of legal-highs at EU level.

A recent Irish Examiner report found that 20 substances — banned in the US and other countries — can be bought over the counter here because they do not come under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Flying Angel Funk Pills, Jax Pills, Smileys, Sex-E and Salvia are all growing in popularity here, particularly among young professionals seeking a mind-altering experience without breaking the law.

In a statement, the department it said: “The emergence of new substances is examined in the context of the EU early warning system and risk assessment process.

“The National Advisory Committee on Drugs’ early warning and emerging trends sub-committee has asked the health research board to raise the issue of BZP (benzylpiperazine) and other substances with the EU, to see what the experiences of other EU countries are in this regard.”

It is a year this week since Health Minister Mary Harney banned the sale of magic mushrooms, blamed for the death of a young man who jumped off a balcony.

Since then, two more potent hallucinogens — peyote cactus and salvia — have come on sale here legally.

There is also concern about BZP, found in pills that claim to be five times the strength of ecstasy.

Limerick TD, Peter Power (FF), who sits on the Oireachtas Justice Committee said: “It’s time ban “party pills” and I will be in touch with my colleagues in Government about bringing in emergency legislation to take them off the shelves.”

He said: “Some of these drugs are potentially addictive, others potentially toxic, but all change the user’s state of mind and mimic the effects of Class-A drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy and LSD. Frighteningly, there are few age restrictions on the sale of these drugs, bar the shops’ own self-imposed age limits.”