Legal Update - 15 January 2025
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment No. 2) Order 2024 (SI 2024/1361) makes the following changes to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (the Act), in force from 15 January 2025–
- It adds the following substances to part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Act as Class A controlled drugs:
- AP-237
- AP-238
- Azaprocin
- para-methyl-AP-237
- para-nitroazaprocin
- 2-Methyl-AP-237
- It amends the entry for methoxyphenidine (an existing Class B drug in part 2 of the Schedule to the Act), to include an additional common name and its full International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry name, to aid clarity of the law.
- It brings novel benzodiazepines and related compounds, under part 3 of the Schedule to the Act, which specifies the drugs which are classified as class ‘C’:
- Bentazepam;
- Bretazenil
- 4’ -Chloro-deschloroalprazolam
- Clobromazolam
- Cloniprazepram
- Desalkylgidazepam
- Deschloroclotizolam
- Difludiazepam
- Flubrotizolam
- Fluclotizolam
- Fluetizolam
- Gidazepam
- Methylclonazepam
- Rilmazafone
- Thionordazepam
- It also brings xylazine (a non-opioid tranquiliser) under control as a Class C controlled drug under the Act.
As a result, from 15 January, it is an offence to possess, produce, supply, import or export any of these drugs or attempt, aid abet counsel procure or conspire to do so.
For further information on these changes, see the Explanatory Memorandum to the Order.
