Jim Shannon
Shadow DUP Spokesperson (Health), Shadow DUP Spokesperson (Transport), Shadow DUP Spokesperson (Equality)
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to control the sale of legal highs on the internet.
Mike Penning
The Minister of State, Home Department, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice
The Government introduced the Psychoactive Substances Bill before the House on 21 July 2015. This legislation, which makes the sale, import,distribution or manufacture of Psychoactive substances a criminal offence, will apply to both online and offline markets.
The National Crime Agency and the police routinely monitor the unlawful sales of psychoactive substances and take robust action to close UK-based websites where they are found to be committing offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Considerable illegal activity also takes place on the internet outside of UK jurisdiction and we will continue to work with international partners to develop an effective response to the supply of controlled drugs and to react swiftly to emerging threats.
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Annotations
Peter Reynolds
Posted on 22 Sep 2015 8:58 am (Report this annotation)
There is nothing that the government can do to stop the sale of legal highs or any drugs on the internet. For as long as it maintains its stupid, inane and dangerous policy of prohibition, new types of drugs and new methods of distribution will continue to be developed.
The only rational option is to regulate the drugs market instead of abandoning it to criminals.