Fine Gael’s Cllr. Domnick Connolly has written to National Drug Strategy Minister John Curran asking him to ban mephedrone, a drug which is currently being sold legally in the country’s head shops.
Cllr. Connolly has written to Minister Curran asking him to introduce legislation banning the drug, which is already banned in a number of other countries including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Israel.
Cllr. Connolly said: “I have written to the Minister for the National Drug Strategy, John Curran TD, asking him to introduce legislation to ban mephedrone and other mind-altering substances that are now being sold in local communities.
“Mephedrone is illegal in a host of EU countries but currently our Government has not taken action to outlaw it in this country. It is a substitute for BZP and is a recreational drug with stimulant and euphoric qualities.
“I am extremely concerned about the availability of so-called ‘legal drugs’ both in Roscommon and in head shops throughout the country. Medical experts and parents are very concerned about its effects on young people and I share these concerns.
“The Government must take action to ban these substances immediately. Mephedrone was banned in Sweden after an 18-year-old died from taking the drug. Must we wait for a similar tragedy in our own community before action is taken by the Government?”
