Mephedrone ban begins on Friday

THE party drug mephedrone will become illegal from Friday, the Home Office has confirmed.

Following the completion of the formal parliamentary process today, the so-called legal high, linked to a number of deaths, will be classified as a Class B drug with effect from 16 April .

From that date anyone found in possession of mephedrone could face five years in prison. The maximum sentence for dealing in the drug will be 14 years.

The move to ban mephedrone, which is sold over the internet as plant food, comes despite the resignation of two Government drugs advisers over the issue.