Briefing 
 

Drugs: harmful "legal highs" to be withdrawn quickly from the EU market 

Draft rules enabling harmful psychoactive substances, known as "legal highs", to be withdrawn rapidly from the EU market will be voted by Parliament on Thursday. MEPs want to protect the health and safety of young people from these drugs, while ensuring that trade for industrial and commercial uses is not hindered. Criminals who breach the ban on the most harmful substances could face up to 10 years in jail.

The proposed EU rules aim to tackle the emergence and rapid spread of new psychoactive substances that imitate the effects of illicit drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine. A 2011 Eurobarometer survey showed that 5% of young people in the EU have used such substances at least once in their lives, with a peak of 16% in Ireland, and close to 10% in Poland, Latvia and the UK.


 

Vote: Thursday, 17 April

Procedure: Co-decision (Ordinary Legislative Procedure), first reading

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