Users of legal highs may simply turn to the internet when a proposed ban comes into effect, a Tayside solicitor has warned.
The Queen’s Speech outlined plans for new laws that will make it an offence to produce, supply, import or export new psychoactive substances.
The maximum penalty for anyone caught will be seven years in prison, but Robin Beattie of Thorntons said it is unclear whether the ban will work or if users will simply go “underground”.
Legal highs are currently readily available on the high street or over the internet and are generally designed to ensure they fall outside the remit of the Misuse of Drugs Act, while mimicking illegal drugs.
“Many people purchasing legal highs do not know what they are actually buying, and what ingredients are contained in them,” Mr Beattie said.
“Purely because they are sold as being ‘legal highs’ does not guarantee that the contents of the product are actually legal.
He added: “The newly proposed Psychoactive Substances Bill could see over 450 high street shops across Britain faced with closure. The Republic of Ireland imposed a similar ban in 2010 and legal highs shops have since virtually disappeared.
“What is unclear is whether the ban will have the desired effect or whether users of the substances will simply turn to the internet or more dangerous avenues to obtain them.”