The Treasury has made a legal order banning the import, export, production and possession with intent to supply of psychoactive substances – including the former so-called 'legal highs' – that are now subject to a blanket prohibition in the United Kingdom.
The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (Application) Order 2016 will come into effect on 18 August 2016.
Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK explained:
'Treasury has made this order to protect the community from the importation of harmful substances, and to prevent the Isle of Man from being used as a conduit to circumvent the prohibitions in force in the UK.'
The order prohibits the import into, and export from, the Island of psychoactive substances that have been prohibited in the UK under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
It also prohibits the production of a psychoactive substance, for example its manufacture or cultivation, possession with intent to supply and removals of psychoactive substances to and from the UK.
The order provides powers for police and customs officers to enforce the prohibitions, and for offences and penalties for contravening them. The penalties include a maximum sentence of up to seven years' custody on conviction for an offence of intentionally importing or exporting a psychoactive substance (or a substance that he or she knows or suspects is a psychoactive substance) which he or she knows is for human consumption, or is reckless as to whether or not it is to be consumed by some other person for its psychoactive effect.
A copy of the order is available on the Customs and Excise website.
