Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2023

On Tuesday, 12 September 2023, the Government introduced a motion on Dangerous Drugs. 

The motion:  “That the draft Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2023, which was laid before this House on 5 September, be approved.” 

The order proposes an amendment to paragraph 1(a) of part 3 of schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to bring nitrous oxide under the control of that Act as a class C drug.

In September 2021, following increasing reports of the harms associated with the use of nitrous oxide, the Government commissioned the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs ( ACMD)  to undertake an independent assessment of it. The Government requested that the ACMD include in its assessment a recommendation on the appropriate legislative control of the substance. The updated harms assessment was published in March 2023. The ACMD report did not recommend the control of nitrous oxide under the MDA, but it did note concerning health harms such as nerve damage.

I voted Aye and the motion was passed  Ayes: 404  Noes: 36.