LETTER: Risk of record if caught with '˜legal high'

If you use some of the drugs that used to be called legal highs you're now breaking the law. The law changed twice last year and now most synthetic cannabinoids are Class B drugs.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Mar 2017, 10:00 BST
Updated 24th Mar 2017, 11:11 BST

Synthetic cannabinoids are chemicals that have been designed to affect the same parts of the brain as cannabis does. They are mixed with acetone and sprayed onto plant material to make them smokeable and sometimes the plant material is mildly hallucinogenic too. Because of their make-up they are much stronger than cannabis itself, and our officers and hospital staff have dealt with numerous reports of people collapsing after taking them.

There’s a range of dozens of different substances used to make these drugs but they are often sold as Mamba, Annihilation or Spice. This means that you have no idea if the drug you buy today will be the same as the last one you took.

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Nearly all these synthetic cannabinoids became Class B drugs when the law changed late last year, meaning that it is a criminal offence to possess them, supply them or possess them with intent to supply.

Our message to users is that you now risk a criminal record if you are caught in possession of synthetic cannabinoids and we will be enforcing the law rigorously.

Jill Walden

Media & PR Manager, Derbyshire Constabulary