At its December sitting, Tynwald voted in favour of extending the ban on the so called ‘legal high’ MDAI for a further 12 months.
 
The ban, which will see MDAI remain a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1976, will come into force on 1 January 2013, meaning that the ban will continue uninterrupted.
 
Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK, who tabled the Order said: “The original Order approved by Tynwald at its December 2011 sitting was for a 12 month period.  Over the last year the Island’s ACMD have continued to monitor the situation and regularly liaises with its counterparts in the UK.  The situation with legal highs remains fluid, which is why the Order was for an initial 12 month period.  I remain of the opinion that a continued ban is in the best interest of our community and that not renewing it would send mixed messages, which we can ill afford given that this substance tragically cost the life of a local teenager in 2011.”
 
The new Order will again be effective for 12 months, after which time a further Order can be made, subject to Tynwald approval.