Important news on psychoactive substances (aka legal highs)

18th June 2016

The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 came into force last month, bringing an end to so-called legal highs. Under the new legislation it is an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess with intent to supply, import or export psychoactive substances. As contraband goods, these substances are banned at Glastonbury.

A psychoactive substance is defined in the new law as a substance which is capable of affecting a person’s mental functioning or emotional state, but is not currently controlled as a class A, B or C drug. This includes Nitrous Oxide.

Avon and Somerset Police said: “Psychoactive Substances are extremely dangerous and since their emergence have been linked with numerous incidents where people have been admitted to hospital, suffered long-term harm and even died. Anyone selling so-called legal highs at Glastonbury will now be breaking the law, and if caught doing so, could face a maximum prison sentence of seven years.”

For more information, please see the Glastonbury Police website.