Julian supports blanket ban on legal highs
October 20, 2015
Last night in Parliament Julian welcomed the Government’s blanket ban on legal highs. Under the Psychoactive Substances Bill, the supply of legal highs will become a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of up to seven years in prison.
Speaking in the debate, Julian said “For far too long, York, along with other cities and towns across the country, has been on the front line in the fight against legal highs. Only by making it an offence to produce or supply these drugs, and by imposing a blanket ban on psychoactive substances, can we be sure to clamp down on this dangerous trade once and for all.
“Simply stamping ’not fit for human consumption’ on a brightly coloured packet that claims that its contents mimic the effects of illegal drugs is not enough to keep people safe. Those who sell such substances know that, yet they are happy to let their customers play a highly dangerous game of Russian roulette in exchange for a quick profit.”
“Selling such dangerous substances in a highly appealing way in shops gives the illusion that this trade is in some way acceptable. It is simply not. The sale of legal highs is a trade in human misery.”
Julian also discussed the impact legal highs have had on crime rates across North Yorkshire, including police concerns about double dosing. He also referred to the recent case of a night-clubber breaking into a headshop to feed his addiction for legal highs.
To read the speech in full, please click the link below:
