Government Home Office minister James Brokenshire has announced that he will bring in a temporary ban for all so-called ‘legal high’ drugs – this, in reaction, to the current lengthy legislative process which sees Home Office advisor the Council of the Misuse Of Drugs undertake detailed research of potential danger drugs before considering permanent banning.

Brokenshire commented to media this week:  “The drugs market is changing and we need to adapt current laws to allow us to act more quickly.  The temporary ban allows us to act straight away to stop new substances gaining a foothold in the market and help us tackle unscrupulous drug dealers trying to get round the law peddling dangerous chemicals to young people.”

The Government’s momentum follows the recent public furore over a number of teenage deaths allegedly linked to legal high drugs such as Mephedrone.  Critics, many within clubland, suggest that there is little solid evidence, as yet, to conclusively prove legal high drugs are to blame and that the authorities are reacting too quickly.

Mephedrone was banned in April but concerns have been raised over the summer by new ‘legal high’ substance Ivory Wave – the drug has been sold online as bath salts; it is blamed for the high-profile death of 24-year-old Michael Bishton earlier this month.