Shops stop selling ‘legal highs’

More than 90 retailers in Scotland have stopped peddling the drugs formerly known as “legal highs” since a blanket ban on the substances came into force.

The shops are among hundreds across the UK which have either been closed or are no longer selling the potentially dangerous new psychoactive substances (NPS), the Home Office said.

A blanket ban on socalled legal highs came into force exactly three months ago, on May 26 this year.

Offenders can face up to seven years in prison under the Psychoactive Substances Act, which criminalises the production, distribution, sale and supply of the drugs.

Police said more than 90 retailers in Scotland involved or suspected of involvement in the sale of NPS were not found to be selling the substances after the ban came into force.

Across the UK overall, 308 shops are no longer selling the drugs, and 24 “headshops” – premises selling NPS as one of the mainstays of their business – have closed down altogether, figures showed.

Deputy Chief Constable Ruaraidh Nicolson said: “All were visited a week prior to the legislation taking effect to serve an educational letter and five premises across Scotland were found to be selling NPS.

“A week after the legislation was introduced, the same retailers were visited once again and none were found to be openly selling NPS.”