A synthetic chemical said to mimic the effects of cocaine is being marketed as the new legal party drug now that mephedrone has been outlawed.
An investigation by The Times has found that suppliers of “legal highs” are pushing a substance called sub coca dragon to stay ahead of legislation.
A reporter visited two Dr Herman’s “head” shops, in Manchester and Warrington, on Saturday morning to investigate how the ban on mephedrone, also known as miaow-miaow, was working. She was told on both occasions that mephedrone, which became illegal on Friday after it was linked to several deaths, had been taken off the market. She was instead offered sub coca dragon, which was described as “similar and still legal”.
Two grams of the white powder were purchased at £20 each. The sachets bore the warning: “Research chemical not for human consumption.”
Government ministers, police and drug agencies had been warned that the market in so-called legal highs was suffciently sophisticated and financially lucrative to stay ahead of legislators.
The Times opted for the Dr Herman’s chain in the North West after the exposure in March that Sean Ellman, a director of the company and an MP’s son, was “one of Britain’s biggest miaow dealers”.
The reporter posed as a customer at the Dr Herman’s store in Church Street, Manchester, and asked a member of staff if mephedrone was available. The young man, laughing, said: “No, that was banned. We can’t give you any of that. It is a Class B drug now.” Asked if he knew where it could be bought now that it was illicit, he replied: “No, sorry, I can’t help you with that.”
But our investigator was told that there was something similar to mephedrone: “We have sub coca dragon — that’s similar and still legal.” Asked the effects, the young man replied: “Well, it is from the sub coca plant, so it’s from the same family as cocaine.”
As the transactions took place, customers were entering the shop to ask for cannabis seeds. The shop offers seed banks, books about cannabis and smoking and growing equipment.
Our reporter also asked the availability of another legal high, naphyrone, a substance that some fear is on the way to Britain. The shop assistant said: “No, that is banned over here. It’s really dangerous. You don’t want to take that. It strips your brain of dopamine and messes you up. I wouldn’t touch it.”
As the reporter left, the assistant said: “Do you want the sticker to go on the bag, so you know what it is? It says ‘not for human consumption’ — we have to say that.” Our reporter asked if the substance was plant food, like mephedrone. He laughed and replied: “No, you can’t give any of it to plants. It wouldn’t do them any good. It’s just what they have to say to get around it.”
At the chain’s Warrington branch, the assistant firmly brushed aside our attempts to buy mephedrone. “We don’t sell that — it is illegal,” she said. Yet the reporter was again offered sub coca dragon as a substitute. She was told that she could have powder at £20 a gram or four tablets for £30. The reporter bought a gram and then left.
The Government’s drug advisers are looking at naphyrone, with a view to banning it. Sub coca dragon is so new that it is not listed by the Government’s Frank drugs helpline.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 101516.ece
One step ahead of the law
One step ahead of the law
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