Automatic temporary bans should be introduced to tackle the problem of ‘legal highs’ - and prevent the island being used as a channel to import these substances into the UK.
That’s the call from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs whose annual report will be presented to next week’s Tynwald sitting.
Currently automatic temporary bans are not an option in the Isle of Man but the ACMD believe they would be beneficial.
Requesting the Department of Health considers such a move, the ACMD’s report states: ‘The concern is that the Isle of Man could be used as a channel to import substances to the UK, whilst the island is updating its legislation.
‘In addition, it is important that, where the UK ACMD identifies a substance that causes harm etc, it is also automatically temporarily banned on the island so the population of the Isle of Man is equally as protected as that of the UK.’
Its stance on one legal high, however, resulted in the Health Minister David Anderson choosing to overturn its recommendation.
The Isle of Man remains the only place in the British Isles to have banned the legal high MDAI. Tynwald first outlawed the drug in December last year in response to the death of Ramsey teenager Tanya Hughes.
At the inquest into the death of the 17-year-old, Tanya’s father John urged the authorities to come together to stop the availability of legal highs and their exposure to youngsters.
Recording a verdict of misadventure, Coroner John Needham described the former Ramsey Grammar School pupil’s death as a ‘great tragedy’ and he recommended that MDAI was added to the list of controlled substances.
But while the Isle of Man temporarily banned the substance, it has not been banned in the UK.
The Manx ban was due to end on December 31 last year but Mr Anderson told that month’s sitting of Tynwald he was going against the advice of the experts at the ACMD and wanted to renew a temporary ban of 5,6-Methylenedioxy-2-aminoindan for a further 12 months.
Tynwald voted unanimously to continue the temporary ban.
In its annual report, the ACMD explained its stance: ‘After careful consideration the ACMD recommended not to continue to support this ban.
‘This advice was based on our health professionals not seeing any problems associated with MDAI use in those who have used it over the past year and evidence from the UK has not highlighted a need for a ban.
‘The Minister of Health overturned the ACMD recommendation.
‘To date, the UK ACMD has not made any recommendation to ban MDAI and we believe that the Isle of Man is the only country to have banned this legal high.’
