Sister of Telford drug death man welcomes legal highs ban

The Psychoactive Substances Act was originally expected to come into force on April 6, but was delayed while questions surrounding the definition of "psychoactivity" were ironed out.

It will mean anybody manufacturing or selling substances that affect the mind will face a jail sentence of up to seven years.

The news was welcomed by Mr Penn's sister Charlotte Delo, of Haybridge Road, Telford, who had been campaigning for a ban following her brother's death on May 31, 2014.

She said it was particularly poignant that the ban would become law so close to the anniversary.

Mr Penn, who was 29 and living in Hadley, died after buying the then-legal drug 4,4-DMAR from a woman in Shrewsbury. He had taken ecstasy the night before, and the two drugs reacted.

Mrs Delo, who now gives talks in schools about the dangers of the drugs, said the blanket ban would send out an important message about the dangers of drugs such as Black Mamba and Spice, which mimic the effects of cannabis, and others which emulate drugs such as ecstasy or cocaine.

"So many people think that because these drugs are legal, that they must be all right," she said. "I think people will realised they have been banned because they are dangerous."

The drug that Mr Penn took was banned following his death, but Mrs Delo said the blanket ban was necessary because manufacturers were getting round the law on specific substances by making minor alterations to their contents.

Home Office minister Mike Penning last month praised Mrs Delo and the Shropshire Star for highlighting the dangers of the drugs. He said: "This was a tragic case and we must do all we can to stop anything similar happening again, not only in Shropshire, but the whole of the country. The Psychoactive Substances Act will make it an offence to produce, supply, or possess with intent to supply any mind-altering substances, also banning imports and exports."

The ban was also welcomed by new police commissioner John Campion. He said : "These substances are ruining lives. Our Police need the support and investment in Shropshire from a commissioner who has the ear of Government and the ability to influence how we tackle this blight on our society."

Confirming the introduction of the ban this month, Home Office minister Karen Bradley said: "Psychoactive substances shatter lives and we owe it to all those who have lost loved ones to do everything we can to eradicate this abhorrent trade.

"This Act will bring to an end the open sale on our high streets of these potentially harmful drugs and deliver new powers for law enforcement to tackle this issue at every level in communities, at our borders, on UK websites and in our prisons."

She said the legislation would send the message that legal highs were not safe and would ban their sale and ensure that unscrupulous traders who profit from them face up to seven years in prison.

Everyday psychoactive substances including tea, coffee and alcohol are exempted from the blanket ban.

Poppers, also known as alkyl nitrite, have also been excluded from the legislation after the government's advisory committee on the misuse of drugs provided evidence that they did not have a direct impact on the brain.