2021 No. 1427
Dangerous Drugs

The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (England, Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2021

Made
Laid before Parliament
Coming into force
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 7(1)(a) and (b), 10(1), 22(1)(a) and 31(1)(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 19711.

In accordance with section 31(3) of that Act the Secretary of State has consulted the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Citation, Commencement and Extent1.

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (England, Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2021 and come into force on 15th June 2022.

(2)

These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

Amendment of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 20012.

(1)

The following amendments are made to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 20012.

(2)

Omit regulation 4B (Exceptions for gamma–butyrolactone and 1,4–butanediol)3.

(3)

In paragraph 1(a) of Schedule 14—

(a)

after “Bufotenine” insert “1,4-Butanediol”;

(b)

after “Fungus (of any kind) which contains psilocin or an ester of psilocin” insert “Gamma-butyrolactone”.

Kit Malthouse
Minister of State
Home Office
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3998) (“the 2001 Regulations”).

Regulation 2(2) removes regulation 4B of the 2001 Regulations, that made it lawful to import, export, produce, supply, offer to supply or possess Gamma–butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4–Butanediol (1,4-BD) in certain circumstances.

Regulation 2(3) adds 1,4-Butanediol (1,4-BD) and Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) to Schedule 1 to the 2001 Regulations. The Schedule in which a controlled drug is placed affects the extent to which the drug can be lawfully imported, exported, produced, supplied or possessed. The controlled drugs placed in Schedule 1 to the 2001 Regulations are those subject to the tightest controls, requiring a Home Office licence in order to access such drugs.

A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is submitted alongside the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside the instrument at www.legislation.gov.uk. Copies may be obtained from the Home Office at 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.