Legal highs are not actually legal!

Although Psychoactive Substances Act came into effect in spring 2016 many people are still unaware of the consequences and effect of this new legislation.

Psychoactive drugs or often incorrectly labelled legal highs contain one or more chemical substances which produce similar effects to illegal drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis.  Examples of Legal highs are plant foods, MDAT, Nitro Oxide (laughing gas) and can be anything as ordinary as bath salts. They are sold in different forms such as powders pills, capsules or smoking mixtures and are sold online or in shops.  Being sold in this way has given people false pretenses that the substances are not illegal.

People are also unaware of the effects of Psychoactive substances, after all who would think it wouldn’t be harmful if it’s sold in a shop or its being referred to someone as a ‘legal high’?  However psychoactive substances have been linked to a number of deaths and hospital admissions.  The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) showed that there were 97 recorded deaths from psychoactive substances in 2012.

Under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 if someone is charged with producing, distributing, or supplying psychoactive substance (legal high) could face up to 7 years in prison. If a person is in possession of the substance whilst in a “custodial institution”, such as a prison or young offender’s institution they could face up to 2 years in prison.

If you are arrested for any offence relating to Psychoactive Substances, you are entitled to free independent legal advice at the police station. Johnson Astills offer 24 hour police station advice.

If the police want to ask you any questions under caution in relation to the Psychoactive Substances contact Johnson Astills who can attend to assist you.

Johnson Astills have offices based in Leicester and Loughborough.