Bill 'will lead to head shops closure'

Head shops are expected be put out of business for good as a result of a scheme for a proposed law published today, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said today.

The sale or supply of substances with psychoactive affects for human consumption will become a criminal offence under the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill.

Last month, Minister for Health Mary Harney made the necessary statutory instruments to make the sale of substances sold in head shops subject to criminal sanctions under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

"This will be a belt and braces approach. Not only will we ban individual products through the legislation that the Minister for Health has, but also this…catch-all piece of legislation," Mr Ahern said today.

Asked if the proposed legislation would put head shops out of business for good, Mr Ahern said: "I think it will".

He said the Bill was being drafted as a matter of priority and he looked forward to its publication and enactment as soon as possible.