Roche welcomes moves to control Head Shops

Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche has welcomed the establishment of a group under the National Advisory Committee on drugs to identify possible options for the regulation of Head Shops.

The operation of the so-called “Head Shops” has given cause for concern in many communities across the country.

The response to the operations of these outlets to date has been to limit the substances that were on sale. In 2006 for example the possession or sale of magic mushrooms was made illegal. Last year the substance BZP was similarly subjected to controls and criminal sanctions substances. The Department of Health & Children is currently preparing regulations which will introduce further controls under the Misuse of Drugs Act. A similar approach is being adopted in the United Kingdom where legislation was introduced before Christmas to control a number of substances.

Minister Roche has suggested that an addition to examining the question of controls on these substances which can be sold through Head Shops, consideration should also be given to tightening planning regulations relating to the opening of “Head Shops”.

By strengthening planning regulations Local Authorities and local communities could be given more control over the opening of Head Shops and the control of existing shops, including controls over their hours of operation.

“It is clear that a range of controls are going to be necessary to deal with this particular issue”. It is in my view particularly important that local communities should be given a say as to where Head Shops are open to operate. The first step in this regard would be to look at the possibility of giving Councils much stronger planning powers in the issue Minister Roche concluded.