Harney rules out herbal ecstasy ban

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney has said she has no plans to ban herbal ecstasy, despite concerns being raised about the pills, which produce a so-called legal high.

Herbal ecstasy is a term used to describe a combination of herbs that are legal and cheap. The pills are sold over the counter in a number of “alternative lifestyle” outlets in this country.

But medical experts have raised concerns about the pills, as they often contain benzylpiperazine (BZP), which can produce a similar high to amphetamines and has caused dangerous side- effects in some cases. BZP pills are banned in the US and Britain.

Earlier this year, Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency warned vendors that selling the pills was illegal.

An agency statement said: “BZP can result in agitation, vomiting, abdominal pain, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, colic, diarrhoea, allergic reactions and fever. In rare cases, users may suffer from serotonin syndrome, which can result in death.

“Experimental studies demonstrate that the abuse, dependence potential, pharmacology and toxicology of BZP are similar to those of amphetamine.”

Despite this, pills containing BZP are still legal here. In July the junior minister with responsibility for drugs, Pat Carey, indicated he was considering a ban on herbal ecstasy, saying he had “serious concerns” about it.

But Ms Harney has now ruled out the prospect of any such ban.

Responding to a parliamentary question from Labour TD Jack Wall, Ms Harney said herbal ecstasy was not among those substances banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act and there were no plans to add it to the list.

“Substances are scheduled under the act in accordance with the department’s obligations under international conventions and/or where there is evidence that the substances are causing significant harm to public health in Ireland,” she said.

“There are currently no plans to add herbal ecstasy to the list of scheduled substances.”