This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8592103.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Decision on mephedrone 'ban' due | Decision on mephedrone 'ban' due |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The government says it will press ahead with a decision on banning the "legal high" mephedrone, despite another of its drugs advisers resigning. | |
| It is due to receive advice on the substance from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) later. | |
| There had been speculation the eleventh-hour resignation of Dr Polly Taylor from the ACMD could delay a ban because of rules about its membership. | |
| The ACMD said it would notify the home secretary at 1600 BST "as planned". | The ACMD said it would notify the home secretary at 1600 BST "as planned". |
| Mr Johnson is expected to announce a ban later in the day. | Mr Johnson is expected to announce a ban later in the day. |
| There has been pressure to ban mephedrone, which has been linked in recent media reports to at least four deaths in the UK. | There has been pressure to ban mephedrone, which has been linked in recent media reports to at least four deaths in the UK. |
| But the law says any move to ban a drug must follow consultation with the Advisory Council. | But the law says any move to ban a drug must follow consultation with the Advisory Council. |
| After the resignation of Dr Taylor, Lib Dem science spokesman Dr Evan Harris said Home Secretary Alan Johnson's ban would have to wait until the council was "properly constituted". | After the resignation of Dr Taylor, Lib Dem science spokesman Dr Evan Harris said Home Secretary Alan Johnson's ban would have to wait until the council was "properly constituted". |
| But a spokesman from the Home Office said the ACMD was still able to fulfil its legal role. | But a spokesman from the Home Office said the ACMD was still able to fulfil its legal role. |
| There is little more we can do to describe the importance of ensuring that advice is not subjected to a desire to please ministers Dr Polly Taylor Adviser's full resignation letter Read Mark Easton's blog class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/health/newsid_10000000/newsid_10004300/10004383.stm">What is mephedrone? | |
| The interim chair of the ACMD, Les Iversen, said he would be issuing the home secretary with advice about mephedrone "as planned" on Monday. He said there were "serious concerns" about the drug. | The interim chair of the ACMD, Les Iversen, said he would be issuing the home secretary with advice about mephedrone "as planned" on Monday. He said there were "serious concerns" about the drug. |
| It was not the council's job to ask for emergency legislation but if Alan Johnson was "minded to take rapid action I don't think any of us would be unhappy about it", he said. | It was not the council's job to ask for emergency legislation but if Alan Johnson was "minded to take rapid action I don't think any of us would be unhappy about it", he said. |
| Prof Iversen said the ACMD was "saddened and disappointed" that Dr Taylor - the council's veterinary medicine expert - had resigned. | Prof Iversen said the ACMD was "saddened and disappointed" that Dr Taylor - the council's veterinary medicine expert - had resigned. |
| Dr Taylor said she "did not have trust" in the way the government would treat the council's advice. | Dr Taylor said she "did not have trust" in the way the government would treat the council's advice. |
| The post is required by law to be filled on the committee. | The post is required by law to be filled on the committee. |
| Prof Iversen said the selection process for a replacement had already begun as her term of office was coming to an end. Interviews would take place "as soon as possible", he added. | Prof Iversen said the selection process for a replacement had already begun as her term of office was coming to an end. Interviews would take place "as soon as possible", he added. |
| Scientific proof | Scientific proof |
| Earlier, Dr Harris said: "The 1971 (Misuse of Drugs) Act is very clear that before the government criminalises thousands of people by banning a drug they must take advice on drug harm and other matters from a legally constituted advisory council. | Earlier, Dr Harris said: "The 1971 (Misuse of Drugs) Act is very clear that before the government criminalises thousands of people by banning a drug they must take advice on drug harm and other matters from a legally constituted advisory council. |
| "If it is necessary to act urgently to ban mephedrone then, by provoking this resignation by their refusal to respect the scientists who offer advice, the home secretary will now be forced to wait a delay while the council is properly constituted." | "If it is necessary to act urgently to ban mephedrone then, by provoking this resignation by their refusal to respect the scientists who offer advice, the home secretary will now be forced to wait a delay while the council is properly constituted." |
| A former secretary of the advisory council, Jeremy Sare, told the BBC the council would not be properly constituted until a new vet was appointed, which would take at least a few weeks. | A former secretary of the advisory council, Jeremy Sare, told the BBC the council would not be properly constituted until a new vet was appointed, which would take at least a few weeks. |
| But a Home Office spokeswoman said: "Based on its current formation the ACMD is still able to fulfil its statutory role and provide advice on mephedrone today on which we can act." | But a Home Office spokeswoman said: "Based on its current formation the ACMD is still able to fulfil its statutory role and provide advice on mephedrone today on which we can act." |
| Although Dr Taylor's resignation was "regrettable", her role was to provide expertise in relation to controlled drugs in the field of veterinary medicine - and as mephedrone had no legitimate use in veterinary medicine, her advice was not integral to the ACMD's ability to advise the home secretary, she said. | Although Dr Taylor's resignation was "regrettable", her role was to provide expertise in relation to controlled drugs in the field of veterinary medicine - and as mephedrone had no legitimate use in veterinary medicine, her advice was not integral to the ACMD's ability to advise the home secretary, she said. |
| Prof Nutt: The government should think "more creatively" about regulation | Prof Nutt: The government should think "more creatively" about regulation |
| In her resignation letter, Dr Taylor told the home secretary: "I feel that there is little more we can do to describe the importance of ensuring that advice is not subjected to a desire to please ministers or the mood of the day's press." | In her resignation letter, Dr Taylor told the home secretary: "I feel that there is little more we can do to describe the importance of ensuring that advice is not subjected to a desire to please ministers or the mood of the day's press." |
| Mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant, is known by various names, including "M-Cat", and "meow meow". | Mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant, is known by various names, including "M-Cat", and "meow meow". |
| So far there is no conclusive scientific proof that mephedrone has been responsible for any deaths in the UK, and scientists are still trying to work out whether it is harmful on its own or if taken with something else. | So far there is no conclusive scientific proof that mephedrone has been responsible for any deaths in the UK, and scientists are still trying to work out whether it is harmful on its own or if taken with something else. |
| But there have been at least 18 deaths in England where cathinones - the group of drugs which mephedrone falls into - have been implicated, a ACMD meeting on Friday revealed. | But there have been at least 18 deaths in England where cathinones - the group of drugs which mephedrone falls into - have been implicated, a ACMD meeting on Friday revealed. |
| Seven provided post mortem evidence of mephedrone, and a further seven deaths in Scotland have been linked to the drugs. | Seven provided post mortem evidence of mephedrone, and a further seven deaths in Scotland have been linked to the drugs. |
| Last week Prof Iversen strongly indicated that the ACMD would recommend classifying mephedrone as a Class B drug. | Last week Prof Iversen strongly indicated that the ACMD would recommend classifying mephedrone as a Class B drug. |
| MEPHEDRONE FACTS Effects similar to amphetamines and ecstasySold as a white powder, capsules and pills or can be dissolved in liquidOften sold online as plant food marked "not for human consumption"Completely different to methadone, used to treat heroin addictsReported side effects include headaches, palpitations, nausea, cold or blue fingers Long-term effect unknownCurrently legal to buy and be in possession of the powder, but against the law to sell, supply or advertise the powder for human consumptionAlready illegal in Israel, Denmark, Norway and Sweden | MEPHEDRONE FACTS Effects similar to amphetamines and ecstasySold as a white powder, capsules and pills or can be dissolved in liquidOften sold online as plant food marked "not for human consumption"Completely different to methadone, used to treat heroin addictsReported side effects include headaches, palpitations, nausea, cold or blue fingers Long-term effect unknownCurrently legal to buy and be in possession of the powder, but against the law to sell, supply or advertise the powder for human consumptionAlready illegal in Israel, Denmark, Norway and Sweden |
| Last October, Mr Johnson sacked his chief drugs adviser, Professor David Nutt, saying he had lobbied against government policy. | Last October, Mr Johnson sacked his chief drugs adviser, Professor David Nutt, saying he had lobbied against government policy. |
| The sacking led to five other members quitting and an urgent review of the committee's working relationship with ministers. | The sacking led to five other members quitting and an urgent review of the committee's working relationship with ministers. |
| Prof Nutt, who has set up his own rival expert body, has warned that banning mephedrone could be self-defeating and that the evidence supporting a ban was not clear. | Prof Nutt, who has set up his own rival expert body, has warned that banning mephedrone could be self-defeating and that the evidence supporting a ban was not clear. |
| He has urged the ACMD and ministers to wait for the verdict of an expert European body which is looking at the use of the drug across all EU member states. | He has urged the ACMD and ministers to wait for the verdict of an expert European body which is looking at the use of the drug across all EU member states. |
| "What I hope we could get would be some sort of moratorium to stop this current hysteria about mephedrone," he told BBC Radio 5 live. | "What I hope we could get would be some sort of moratorium to stop this current hysteria about mephedrone," he told BBC Radio 5 live. |
| "We don't yet know whether it's actually killed anyone," he said. | "We don't yet know whether it's actually killed anyone," he said. |
| The Conservatives have called for the law to be changed to allow temporary bans of drugs while the scientific evidence is assessed. | The Conservatives have called for the law to be changed to allow temporary bans of drugs while the scientific evidence is assessed. |