Herbal Highs: harmless or lethal?

Government to Crack Down on Herbal Highs

The drugs - known as herbal highs - are marketed as alternatives to popular drugs like cannabis and ecstasy, which are illegal. The Government is concerned that the substances contained in some of the products may be lethal.

Alan Milburn outlines the Government's case on Today

Under the measures announced on Wednesday by Health Minister Alan Milburn, suppliers could face up to two years imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both. Longer sentences could be imposed for those running major factories producing herbal drugs.

Speaking on the Today programme, Mr Milburn said of the drugs: "They are targeted at young people, they are dangerous, we believe they can be killers, that's why we are taking tough action today."

Herbal drugs, which come mostly in pill form, are widely available by mail order, in clubs, at specialist shops and at music festivals. Ingredients include such exotic substances as yohimbine and ipomoea. The drugs are sold under names like "Druid's Dream" and "Herbal Ecstasy" and are said to produce euphoric and sometimes hallucinogenic effects.

Charlie Hughes, who owns herbal drug outlets in London and Manchester, replies to Milburn

Another substance being targeted is khat, a plant popular in the Horn of Africa and parts of the Middle East. Khat is imported into the UK primarily for immigrants from Somalia, Yemen and other countries of that region, where it is used socially. The leaves of the plant are chewed, leaving users energised.

Critics of the Government's proposals argue that by cracking down on what they regard as relatively harmless substances, users will turn to hard drugs like cocaine and crack. Immigrant communities who use khat are particularly vulnerable in this regard.

Speaking on the BBC's Breakfast News, John Marks, a consultant psychiatrist, described the drugs as "innocuous substances". He warned that banning them would mean that "criminals will have an even greater slice of the economic cake".