XN000022-1977-01-28 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 1977

CONTROL ON SOFT DRUGS TIGHTENED

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THE GOVERNMENT TOOK A FIRST STEP TODAY TO TIGHTEN THE CONTROL OF PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES (COMMONLY KNOWN AS SOFT DRUGS) BY ADDING AMPHETAMINE AND METKAQUALONE TO THE LIST OF DRUGS CONTROLLED UNDER THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE.

THE ADDITION OF THE TWO DRUGS TO THE ORDINANCE WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY UNDER THE DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT OF FIRST SCHEDULE) ORDER 1977.

UNDER THE ORDER, ANYONE COMMITTING A MAJOR OFFENCE (SUCH AS THE MANUFACTURE OR TRAFFICKING OF THESE TWO DRUGS) IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $5 MILLION, 1.E. THE SAME AS FOR SIMILAR OFFENCES CONNECTED WITH HEROIN AND OP (UM.

THE MEASURE WAS TAKEN ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS TO TIGHTEN THE CONTROL OF CERTAIN TYPES OF PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES WHICH MIGHT BE ILLICITLY MANUFACTURED, ABUSED OR SMUGGLED ABROAD FOR TRAFFICKING PURPOSES.

AT PRESENT MOST PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES ARE CONTROLLED UNDER THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE WHICH IS PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH MALPRACTICES ON THE PART OF DEALERS AND DISPENSARIES, AND DOES NOT, ON THE WHOLE, PROVIDE PARTICULARLY HARSH PUNISHMENT.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: +ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT THERE IS MUCH ABUSE OF THESE DRUGS AT PRESENT. EXPERIENCE IN OTHER COUNTRIES HAS SHOWN THAT OPIATE (HEROIN AND OPIUM) ABUSERS CAN SWITCH TO PSYCHOTROP IC SUBSTANCES IF THE AVAILABILITY OF OPIATES IS RESTRICTED,

+ THE REASON FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE LAW IS, THEREFORE, TO IMPOSE CONTROL ON THESE TWO SUBSTANCES AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE AGAINST BOTH POSSIBLE ABUSE AND POSSIBLE ILLICIT MANUFACTURE.

+TIMELY PREVENTIVE ACTION HAS TO BE TAKEN NOW IN ORDER TO FORESTALL SUCH AN EVENTUALITY, IF IT EVER OCCURS, HE ADDED.

AMPHETAMINE IS A STIMULANT AND COULD, IF ABUSED REPEATEDLY, LEAD TO LOSS OF APPETITE, DELUSION AND ORGANIC DAMAGE= AND METHAQUALONE, WHICH WAS ALSO KNOWN AS MANDRAX, IS A TRANQUILIZER THAT COULD CAUSE ADDICTION, CONFUSION, DIZZINESS AND ORGANIC DAMAGE IF TAKEN EXCESSIVELY OVER A PERIOD.

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