They may be legal, but are they safe?

Unfortunately, the available evidence suggests that some of those who sampled the allegedly safe wares on sale at the stall might have stayed high, but they remained neither healthy nor safe. One man who smoked some herbal substance of dubious provenance described running around in circles in a state of extreme agitation. Other people received medical attention as a result of their search for altered psychological states.

Although the legal high outlet was touting substitutes for cannabis and cocaine and, manifestly, selling chemicals which, despite their supposedly natural credentials, produced unpredictable results, the police were powerless to intervene. Accounts suggest that they were obliged to look on while festival-goers snorted powders and smoked drugs that are not on the banned list. They were no doubt deeply frustrated by their inability to act and to prevent potential harm being done to users.

It would, of course, be impossible to compile a list of all the substances capable of producing narcotic or hallucinogenic effects and then to ban them. Nevertheless, as Alcohol and Drugs Service director Michael Gafoor has pointed out, relatively unknown drugs which are not prohibited can be as dangerous as those that are already beyond the legal pale. This is partly because their effects – long and short term – may not have been investigated and partly because those tempted to try them have little idea of the dosages that might be appropriate.

Fortunately, before too much damage was done at Jersey Live, someone – reputed to be the organisers – decided that the legal high stall had to shut up shop. This was without doubt the right decision, not only for the welfare of those at the event but also to limit damage to the event’s reputation.

We are, however, still faced with a situation in which substances which, to date, have not been officially branded as dangerous can be sold and consumed by anyone adventurous – and reckless – enough to try them. As Mr Gafoor said when commenting on the weekend’s events, this is something that the authorities should examine very carefully.