Pubs on guard for 'legal highs'

Licensees should be on guard against another 'legal high', which has been reclassified as a Class B drug from today.

Minister for Crime Prevention James Brokenshire has announced that naphyrone or NRG1 and its related compounds have been banned.

The drug was formed using some of the chemicals found in former legal high mephedrone, which was illegalised as a Class B drug in March following several related deaths.

Both drugs are sold in powder form and marketed as plant food or pond cleaner.

"The Government is deeply concerned about the use of 'legal highs' which is why we took swift action to ban this new drug," said Brokenshire.

"There is also clear evidence that just because a substance advertised as a 'legal' high does not mean this is the case. Anyone buying a 'legal high' is putting their health at risk and could be committing a criminal offence."

Class B drugs carry a penalty of up to five years in prison for possession and 14 years for supplying, plus fines.

Both drugs were banned on advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.