Following the completion of the parliamentary process today, mephedrone and other cathinone derivatives will become illegal as Class B drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with effect from 00.01 on 16 April 2010.
Class B drugs carry a maximum prison sentence of five years for possession and a maximum prison sentence of 14 years for supplying and other trafficking offences.
Notes to editors
Read The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drug’s report consideration of the cathinones (new window).
The cathinones derivatives controlled as Class B drugs have been added to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 via a generic definition which covers a wide range of cathinone derivatives including:
-
4-Methylmethcathinone (mephedrone)
-
4-Methoxymethcathinone (bk-PMMA/ methedrone)
-
3-Fluoromethcathinone
-
2-Methylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)propan-1-one (bk-MDMA/methylone)
-
2-Methylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butan-1-one (bk-MBDB/butylone)
Read the Home Office Circular to inform law enforcement and the judiciary (new window).
© Crown copyright material reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland
