Government Go-Ahead for Head-shop Sanctions - Minister Ahern

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr Dermot Ahern, T.D., today announced that the Government has approved new legislation which will crackdown on the operation and activities of head-shops.

The Government today approved the drafting of the Criminal Law (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010. This will provide sanctions against proprietors of head shops engaged in the sale of drug-like products and criminalise the sale and supply of substances sold from them.

Under the new legislation, the sale or supply of substances which may not be specifically proscribed under the Misuse of Drugs Act, but which have psychoactive effects, for human consumption will be a criminal offence. It is also proposed to give appropriate powers to the Gardaí and to the courts to intervene quickly to prevent these outlets from selling these products by way of appropriate prohibition orders.

Minister Ahern said: “The safety of the community is being put at major risk by the operation of so-called head shops. The operators of these shops are exploiting for large profits the availability of potentially dangerous products by selling them for human use. Such activity clearly seeks to undermine the legal framework for the control of drugs in this country.

"I am not prepared to allow this to continue. The Government today approved my proposals to ensure that the criminal law and the Gardaí can deal quickly and effectively with those who sell psychoactive substances for human consumption. I look forward to early publication and enactment of the proposed Bill.”