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5.13 Deputy K.C. Lewis of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the reclassification of the drug mephedrone:
Further to the banning of mephedrone both within the Channel Islands and now in the United Kingdom will the Minister be seeking to reclassify the drug, as at present the drug is class B in Guernsey and C in Jersey?
Deputy A.E. Pryke of Trinity (The Minister for Health and Social Services):
I am pleased to have this opportunity to update the States on actions in Jersey to tackle this very important new health risk.
The Bailiff :
Very briefly I hope, Minister.
The Deputy of Trinity :
I take your point. I am very pleased to say that Jersey Misuse of Drugs Advisory Council met yesterday and discussed the issue of reclassification of mephedrone. The council has advised me that mephedrone should be reclassified from the present class C to class B controlled drug. I have accepted the advice and the necessary process will now be in place to bring forward the appropriate legislation.
The Bailiff :
Commendably brief, Minister. Deputy Lewis , do you wish to follow up?
- Deputy K.C. Lewis :
I thank the Minister for her reply and I am delighted. I have great sympathy with the Minister as one door closes they tend to invent yet another legal high. My understanding is that the U.K. has also now classed this as B which also lends weight to the argument. Does the Minister not agree?
[11:30]
- Deputy M. Tadier :
Could the Minister explain to those of us who are not so savvy why exactly mephedrone is so bad and why it needs to be classified as a B rather than a C, and what mephedrone is?
The Deputy of Trinity :
There has been a lot of information about mephedrone and I take the Bailiff 's advice ... and I would like to thank the J.E.P. for their interesting articles in raising the awareness yesterday. It was very point taken that a lot of work is being done. It is a new designer drug and it has side affects of panic attacks, sweating, fits, seizures, collapse, abnormal heart rhythms, paranoia, hallucinations and it is addictive.
Deputy M. Tadier :
I thank the Minister, I thought she was just describing symptoms that ordinary States Members get after a sitting.