Mephedrone: the class D solution

The urge to criminalise 'legal highs' is understandable – but could lead to even more dangerous experimentation
David Nutt
The Guardian online (UK)
Wednesday, March 17 , 2010

The deaths of two young men in Scunthorpe last Monday that have been linked to the new "legal high" mephedrone (colloquially known as plant food, meow meow, m-cat, or bubbles) has raised a great deal of public concern and loud calls for it to be made illegal. I support the government's position that to rush into controlling mephedrone is premature, as previous claims of fatalities from this drug have turned out to be false alarms. To make it illegal without proper evidence of harm would be wrong and might have unwanted consequences, such as a switch to more dangerous drugs or alcohol.