GHB Outlawed In the UK

British authorities announced this week that they'll be making GHB illegal shortly in response to increasing numbers of 'date-rape' sexual attacks linked to the drug. The colourless liquid, which for years has been available under the counter from numerous sex shops, is to be classified as a Class C drug this August, meaning possession will carry a 2 year sentence.

"It is a very dangerous drug, it can be fatal when mixed with alcohol and had been closely linked to two forms of misuse, both by clubbers and in the area of drug-assisted rape," a Home Office spokesperson told the Observer.

"We consider it to be very harmful."

Given that the Class C category is the same level cannabis is due to be downgraded a some point in the near future, the deterrent effect of the new classification is likely to be minimal, particularly given the explosive increase in popularity of class A drugs like cocaine. Figures published last week revealed that seizures of crack cocaine doubled between 2000 and 2001, from 25kg to 55kg.

http://www.ceri.com/ghbcase.htm (Cognitive Enhancement Research Group- ('A significant part of the government's strategy to demonize GHB has been to encourage reporters and coroners to allege GHB as a cause of death. This started with River Phoenix's death at a Los Angeles nightclub..')

GHB-related tragedies
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