Herbal ‘highs’ set to be banned

Legal herbal highs sold on the high street and internet could be banned, following recommendations made by the government’s drug experts.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has warned Spice Gold, which is advertised as an “aromatic potpourri”, contains synthetic cannabinoid – replicating the effect of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.

Former home secretary Jacqui Smith had previously asked the council to review the issue, and her predecessor Alan Johnson is expected to support the new advice.

Spice Gold first arrived in the UK from China in 2006, costing around £20 for three grammes.

Professor David Nutt, chair of the ACMD, said: “Spice and other synthetic cannabinoid products are being sold legally as harmless ‘herbal legal highs’. However, the herbal content is coated in one or more dangerous chemical compounds that mimic the effects of cannabis.”

The council will now look at Salvia Divinorum, a popular smokeable drug, which prompts laughter and mystic visions in users for a short period of time.