Kieran McCarthy MLA said: “It is vital we tackle the problem of legal highs because of the devastating consequences of these substances. Unfortunately, a number of people have lost their lives after they took a legal high. My heart goes out to their families. I hope we can send out a message that people should not be taking these substances.
“It is important to note that the Misuse of Drugs Act is not a devolved matter and so we must make representations to the Westminster Government in order to address this.
“However, some of our agencies could be involved in cracking down on these substances. For example, depending on how these products are marketed, we can take action by using local agencies such as environmental health, consumer protection and, sometimes, food standards rules.”
ENDS