Experts call for new laws on "legal highs"

A range of measures to tackle so-called "legal highs’ has been recommended by the independent group set up by Scottish ministers to explore the issue in Scotland.

The New Psychoactive Substances Expert Review Group report features six key recommendations, including that licensing authorities should attach conditions and restrictions in relation to the sale of such psychoactive substances ("NPS") when issuing public entertainment or similar licences; and operational guidance to help frontline trading standards staff in tackling NPS.

It also calls for a national centre of excellence in forensic analysis to lead in the detection and identification of NPS in Scotland, and a specific definition of NPS that can be adopted across all areas.

While the restriction and classification of drugs is reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Government has been gathering information about NPS to feed into ongoing national work.

Minister for Community Safety Paul Wheelhouse welcomed the publication of the report in a statement to the Scottish Parliament.

He also announced his intention to chair a ministerial cross-party group to oversee the response to challenges presented by NPS, including some of the work required to respond to the recommendations made in the report.