'LEGAL HIGH' PEDDLERS OFFER ALTERNATIVE TO NEWLY BANNED DRUG

A synthetic chemical said to mimic the effects of cocaine is being
marketed as the new legal party drug now that mephedrone has been outlawed.

An investigation by The Times has found that suppliers of "legal
highs" are pushing a substance called sub coca dragon to stay ahead
of legislation.

A reporter visited two Dr Herman's "head" shops, in Manchester and
Warrington, on Saturday morning to investigate how the ban on
mephedrone, also known as miaow-miaow, was working. She was told on
both occasions that mephedrone, which became illegal on Friday after
it was linked to several deaths, had been taken off the market. She
was instead offered sub coca dragon, which was described as "similar
and still legal".

Two grams of the white powder were purchased at UKP20 each. The
sachets bore the warning: "Research chemical not for human consumption."

Government ministers, police and drug agencies had been warned that
the market in so-called legal highs was suffciently sophisticated and
financially lucrative to stay ahead of legislators.

The Times opted for the Dr Herman's chain in the North West after the
exposure in March that Sean Ellman, a director of the company and an
MP's son, was "one of Britain's biggest miaow dealers".

The reporter posed as a customer at the Dr Herman's store in Church
Street, Manchester, and asked a member of staff if mephedrone was
available. The young man, laughing, said: "No, that was banned. We
can't give you any of that. It is a Class B drug now." Asked if he
knew where it could be bought now that it was illicit, he replied:
"No, sorry, I can't help you with that."

But our investigator was told that there was something similar to
mephedrone: "We have sub coca dragon - that's similar and still
legal." Asked the effects, the young man replied: "Well, it is from
the sub coca plant, so it's from the same family as cocaine."

As the transactions took place, customers were entering the shop to
ask for cannabis seeds. The shop offers seed banks, books about
cannabis and smoking and growing equipment.

Our reporter also asked the availability of another legal high,
naphyrone, a substance that some fear is on the way to Britain. The
shop assistant said: "No, that is banned over here. It's really
dangerous. You don't want to take that. It strips your brain of
dopamine and messes you up. I wouldn't touch it."

As the reporter left, the assistant said: "Do you want the sticker to
go on the bag, so you know what it is? It says 'not for human
consumption' - we have to say that." Our reporter asked if the
substance was plant food, like mephedrone. He laughed and replied:
"No, you can't give any of it to plants. It wouldn't do them any
good. It's just what they have to say to get around it."

At the chain's Warrington branch, the assistant firmly brushed aside
our attempts to buy mephedrone. "We don't sell that - it is illegal,"
she said. Yet the reporter was again offered sub coca dragon as a
substitute. She was told that she could have powder at UKP20 a gram
or four tablets for UKP30. The reporter bought a gram and then left.

The Government's drug advisers are looking at naphyrone, with a view
to banning it. Sub coca dragon is so new that it is not listed by the
Government's Frank drugs helpline.