STATES OF JERSEY
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978
Proposed Classification of Cathinone Derivatives as a Class B Controlled Drugs
1. Issue
The Minister is requested to consider classifying all cathinone derivatives as a Class B controlled drugs under the control of the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978.
2. Introduction
The Misuse of Drugs Advisory Council (MDAC) is established in accordance with Article 2 of the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978 and has a duty to advise the Minister on measures, which in its opinion, should be taken to prevent the misuse of drugs and/or to deal with the social problems connected with drug abuse.
3. Background
The MDAC has recently given consideration to a proposal to reclassify all cathinone derivatives as a Class B controlled drugs. Mephedrone, a member of the cathinone family, was recently reclassified as a Class B controlled drug. At that time it was not possible to provide a generic definition to catch all cathinone derivatives. However, the following generic definition is now available which would make all cathinone derivatives Class B drugs
Any compound (not being bupropion, cathinone, diethylpropion, pyrovalerone or a compound for the time being specified in sub–paragraph (a) of Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978) structurally derived from 2–amino–1–phenyl–1–propanone by modification in any of the following ways, that is to say,
(i) by substitution in the phenyl ring to any extent with alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenedioxy, haloalkyl or halide substituents, whether or not further substituted in the phenyl ring by one or more other univalent substituents;
(ii) by substitution at the 3–position with an alkyl substituent;
(iii) by substitution at the nitrogen atom with alkyl or dialkyl groups, or by inclusion of the nitrogen atom in a cyclic structure.
The MDAC resolved to recommend to the Minister that cathinone derivatives be classified as a Class B controlled drugs using the above generic definition.
4. Recommendation
The Minister is requested to endorse the recommendation of the Misuse of Drugs Advisory Council to classify cathinone derivatives as a Class B controlled drugs under the control of the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978 and to direct the Chief Pharmacist to prepare a brief for consideration by the Law Draftsman.
Paul McCabe - Chief Pharmacist
14th June 2010
1. http://www.ltg.uk.net/admin/files/spice.pdf
2. http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/drug-situation/new-drugs