Mephedrone

James Brokenshire
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the likely effects on health of the use of mephedrone as a recreational drug; what advice he has received from the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs on mephodrone; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Campbell
Mephedrone (4-Methylmethcathinone) is a stimulant drug which is structurally related to cathinone and methcathinone, both of which are controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is currently considering the harms of Mephedrone and related cathinones compounds as a priority of its current review of so called ‘legal highs’, commissioned by the then Home Secretary earlier this year. The ACMD will report back early next year and their advice will inform our response to these substances. The Government’s FRANK campaign provides information on Mephedrone with clear advice about its known harms provided by the Department of Health and our current ‘legal highs’ information campaign has included warnings about Mephedrone.

Mr. Watson
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will bring forward proposals to prohibit the possession and supply of the recreational drug mephedrone;

(2) what recent meetings he has had with the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs to discuss the recreational drug mephedrone; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Campbell
Mephedrone (4-Methylmethcathinone) is a stimulant drug which is structurally related to cathinone and methcathinone, both of which are controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. I had not met the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) specifically on this issue as they are already considering the harms of Mephedrone and related cathinones compounds as a priority of its current review of so called ‘legal highs’, commissioned by the then Home Secretary earlier this year. It is a statutory requirement that the ACMD are consulted before bringing an Order under the 1971 Act before Parliament. The ACMD will report back early next year and their advice will inform our consideration of the control of mephedrone under the 1971 Act.

Joan Ryan
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans his Department has to classify mephedrone as a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what assessment his Department has made of the harm associated with the use of mephedrone; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Campbell
Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) is a stimulant drug which is structurally related to cathinone and methcathinone, both of which are controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), who we are required by statute to consult before bringing an order under the 1971 Act before Parliament, is currently considering the harms of mephedrone and related cathinones compounds as a priority of its current review of so called ‘legal highs’, commissioned by the then Home Secretary earlier this year. The ACMD will report back early next year and their advice will inform our consideration of the control of mephedrone under the 1971 Act. The Government’s Frank campaign provides information on mephedrone with clear advice about its known harms provided by the Department of Health and our current ‘legal highs’ information campaign has included warnings about mephedrone.