New Bill on Headshops is 'Ground Breaking'

Date: 18/06/2010
Posted by: Darragh

The Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill is ground-breaking legislation that will protect the public from dangerous substances.

This Bill will give powers to the Gardaí and the courts to intervene quickly and prevent Headshops from selling dangerous by using prohibition orders.

There are strong sanctions in this legislation including heavy fines and up to five years imprisonment. It is part of the Government's multi-pronged approach targeting the activities of Headshops and will be in addition to Misuse of Drugs Act which allows for a list of banned substances to be expanded.

There has been huge concern over the issue of Headshops and I have spoken to many concerned parents in my constituency about Headshops in Balbriggan, Malahide and Swords. We have also seen very severe cases of anxiety and psychosis in some people who have taken dangerous substances sold in these shops.

I have personally raised this issue with the Garda Commissioner Facthna Murphy (Thursday, 17 June 2010). He is committed to acting on this legislation as soon as it is signed into law and I welcome his stance on this very important issue.

The Government extended the list of banned substances in recent weeks. Now we're going even further because experience has shown us that new psychoactive substances can emerge very quickly.

Fianna Fáil in Government is taking a tough line on this issue. We're providing a general criminal justice response to deal with the supply of new psychoactive substances as they emerge.

I want to thank the Minister for Justice & Law Reform Dermot Ahern who I have worked with closely on this issue. The Minister has listened carefully to the concerns that I have been raising with him and has acted very strongly in this legislation.

The Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 will be published by the Minister for Justice & Law Reform Dermot Ahern T.D., Friday June 18th at 10.45am