PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Synthetic Cannabinoids: Misuse (5 September 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to tackle trends in the incidence of the drug known as Spice

Use of new psychoactive substances has fallen significantly since we introduced the Psychoactive Substances Act, hundreds of retailers have shut and the first offenders have been convicted.

However, the Government recognises how dangerous synthetic cannabinoids, such as those found in spice, can be and the devastating impact that they can have on those taking them. That is why we acted to control these substances as class B drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act and give the police the powers they need to take action, including making possession illegal and delivering longer sentences for dealers

Our new Drug Strategy, emphasised the importance of a joined up approach to tackling the harms caused by drugs to prevent substance misuse, restrict the supply of drugs and support people from drug dependency. We strongly support the multi-agency approach being taken in areas to respond to this issue to reduce burden on public services and to prevent harm to the individuals themselves.