Retailers selling so-called legal highs in Fife have been urged to withdraw the products from sale.
Ian Sloan, councillor for Glenrothes Central and Thornton, has backed plans to introduce new laws that would prohibit production and distribution of legal highs in the UK.
“Legal highs” were implicated in 113 deaths in Scotland in 2013 alone but any clampdown on the substances has been hampered by a lack of clear legislation.
Mr Sloan acts as Fife Council’s representative on the Fife Alcohol and Drug Partnership and has previously spoken out about his concerns over the sale of “legal highs”, which are often sold as plant food or bath salts.
Last week’s Queen’s Speech outlined proposals that could result in a seven-year prison sentence for anyone involved in the supply, possession or production of products capable of having a “psychoactive” effect on people.
It is hoped that any legislation could disrupt the supply of new drugs, which are being created at a rate so fast that the Government has struggled to control them and assess them for safety.
Often when one “legal high” is banned, the formula is tweaked slightly and released under a different name.
The Scottish Government has already published a report calling for a blanket ban.
Mr Sloan said he hopes that retailers will take note of the proposed clampdown.
He added: “I am concerned that people are putting themselves at risk from taking uncontrolled, untested substances.
“Perhaps those selling these new psychoactive substances in premises in Fife might now reconsider their actions, knowing that soon severe penalties will be introduced to bring a halt to this unsavoury trade.”