Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Rejected
Paragraph: 29
A wider review of Schedule 1 controlled drugs is urgently required.
Conclusion
We welcome the ACMD’s work reviewing the status of drugs controlled under Schedule 1 to the 2001 Regulations. However, we conclude a wider review is required.
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the conclusion that a wider review is required, stating it has no plans for a broad review and is satisfied with the current classification of most commonly used drugs, though it has acted on nitrous oxide.
Paragraph Reference:
29
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The Government does not accept this recommendation and has no plans to commission a broad review of the classification and scheduling of controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Apart from psychedelics, which are addressed below, the Committee’s report does not identify specific drugs, of which it has particular concern about the classification, nor does it share the evidence for those concerns. The most commonly used drugs in England and Wales are cannabis, powder cocaine, nitrous oxide, ketamine and ecstasy.4 The Government is satisfied that the current legislative controls for these drugs are appropriate, with the exception of nitrous oxide which we have introduced legislation to control as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and schedule as a Schedule 5 drug under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, due to an increase in health- related and social harms associated with the substance. The Government keeps drugs controls under review, and frequently seeks and acts on advice from the ACMD on the appropriate classification and scheduling of substances. An example of recent reviews include: • In November 2018, a definition of ‘Cannabis-Based Products for Medicinal Use’ was created and added to Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. This enabled products falling under this definition, in accordance with medicines legislation, to be rescheduled. • In June 2020, Epidyolex, a cannabis-based medicine, was rescheduled to Schedule 5 under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. • In April 2022, Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid, Gamma-Butyrolactone and 1,4-Butanediol were moved from Class C to Class B under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971...