Drugs Bill published
The latest of the Government’s key legislation for this session has been unveiled with the publication of the Drugs Bill.
The proposals contained in the bill have been widely trailed and include giving police the power to test for class A drugs on arrest and making dealing near schools or involving children an aggravated factor in sentencing.
Those who attempt to conceal the evidence by swallowing packets of drugs will be subject to ultrasounds or x-rays – as well as being remanded in custody until the evidence becomes available again.
One topical element is the closure of the loop-hole regarding the sale of magic mushrooms.
Currently, it is legal to sell the fungi in their natural state, providing they are not prepared in any way.
On December 15th, two men were cleared of a drugs dealing charge, where they were being prosecuted for selling magic mushrooms stored in a fridge -which the prosecuting officer alleged meant they were prepared.
The magistrate in the case, recorder Claire Miskin, said at the time: “This is a case where Parliament has left a gap and that gap ought really to be filled by Parliament and not by the decision of the courts.”
Contained within this Drugs Bill will be a provision “dealing with the open selling of magic mushrooms by clarifying in law that fresh mushrooms, as well as prepared ones, are illegal”.
Launching the bill, Home Office Minister Caroline Flint said: “The damage caused to individuals, families and society by drugs is enormous. Drug misuse can ruin individual lives, tear open families and blight whole communities with the menace of dealers and crime driven by drug abuse.
“The Government is determined to tackle this by putting more drug dealers – people who profit in the misery of others – behind bars and getting more addicts into treatment.
“Underpinning everything is continued work to stem the flow of drugs to this country and tackle the organised crime networks responsible – powers in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill currently going through Parliament will build on this.
“Drugs are a scourge on the world, and enforcement agencies here in the UK are working closely with their counterparts abroad – in Asia, the Middle East and the Balkans – to pursue organised criminals, disrupt their shipments, bring them to justice, and ultimately make our communities safer.”
