Letter from the ACMD to the Home Secretary: GHB, GBL, and related compounds
Published 26 February 2020
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ACMD Chair: Prof Owen Bowden-Jones
ACMD Secretary: Zahi Sulaiman
4th Floor (NE), Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Rt. Hon. Priti Patel MP
Home Secretary
2 Marsham Street
London, SW1P 4DF
26 February 2020
Dear Home Secretary,
RE: Urgent review of the classification of GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) and GBL (gamma-butyrolactone) and closely related compounds under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the scheduling of both drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.
Thank you for your letter of 6 January 2020 where you commissioned the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to urgently review the classification and scheduling of GHB, GBL, and closely related compounds. The ACMD welcomes the commission and has prioritised this workstream.
The ACMD’s consideration of the scheduling of these compounds will involve a consultation with a range of stakeholders including industry representatives, as it will be important to ensure that any potential recommendations do not lead to unintended consequences on the legitimate usage of these compounds.
The ACMD will also provide advice on other approaches the available evidence suggests would be of value in reducing the availability, demand, and harms of GHB, GBL and closely related compounds.
The ACMD expects to provide its initial advice by Autumn 2020.
Yours sincerely,
Prof Owen Bowden-Jones, Chair of ACMD
cc: Kit Malthouse MP (Minister of State for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service)