HC Deb 11 December 1958 vol 597 cc485-6
3. Dr. D. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the dangerous hallucinogenic properties of such new drugs as mescalin and lysergic acid diethylamide; and when he proposes to bring these drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Acts.

Mr. R. A. Butler

Yes, Sir. I am informed that there is no evidence that these drugs are addiction-producing; it would not, therefore, be appropriate to control them under the Dangerous Drugs Act. 1951.

Dr. Johnson

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, in spite of what he said, the first of these drugs is what one might call a somewhat fashionable drug today, owing to the unusual visual experiences which it produces, while the second is a very powerful drug which is in frequent use at psychiatric clinics and gives most unusual effects? Will he watch the use of these and related substances very closely?

Mr. Butler

I will gladly receive any information given by my hon. Friend. These drugs could not appropriately be brought under the scope of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933, and I am not sure that to list them as poisons would not tend to draw attention to them and stimulate demand. I am doing my best to control distribution, and I shall value any information which my hon. Friend can give me.

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