The Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D., today published the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010.
Under the Bill, the sale or supply of substances which are not specifically proscribed under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, but which have psychoactive effects, for human consumption will be a criminal offence.
The Bill will give appropriate powers to An Garda Síochána and the courts to intervene quickly to prevent outlets from selling these products by way of appropriate prohibition orders. The Scheme will also contain full search and seizure powers for the Gardaí and Revenue’s Customs Service.
This Bill is part of the Government’s multi-pronged approach targeting the activities of head shops. On foot of the Government Order of 11 May, the Minister for Health and Children made the necessary statutory instruments to make the sale of substances commonly sold in head shops subject to criminal sanctions under the Misuse of Drugs Acts.
Minister Ahern said: "This is a very important piece of legislation and I hope to enact it before the summer recess. We have operated a dual approach to combating so-called legal highs - through the Misuse of Drugs Act and now this ground breaking piece of legislation. We knew from experience that new psychoactive substances can quickly emerge after you ban specific items. After you ban one substance, another is created to replace it. This is already happening in head shops here."
"My legislation will provide a general criminal justice response to deal with the supply of new psychoactive substances as they emerge. The Bill will operate in addition to the Misuse of Drugs Acts controls. This new Bill, however, delivers a clear and blunt message to those operating so-called head shops that their days are numbered."
The Bill is available on the Oireachtas website - www.oireachtas.ie
Source: The Department of Justice, 18/06/2010
Safer Student Nights
eBulletin
Poll
