The Employment and Trading Income etc. (Loan Charge Settlement Scheme) Regulations 2026
This Order amends the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to classify fifteen synthetic opioids and five other substances as Class A drugs, making their possession, production, and supply illegal without authorization.
It also reclassifies cumyl-PeGaClone from a Class B to a Class A drug and adds several compounds related to diphenidine to Class B. These changes apply to the whole of the United Kingdom and place these substances under the strictest tier of drug control based on their assessed potential for harm.
Arguments For
The explanatory memorandum states that these synthetic opioids, known as nitazenes, possess high potency and pose a significant risk of fatal overdose.
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) recommended the reclassification following an assessment of the harms associated with these specific substances.
The document indicates that placing these substances in Class A aligns them with other high-potency opioids like heroin and fentanyl, ensuring a consistent legislative approach to high-risk narcotics.
Proponents within the Home Office suggest that stricter controls will provide law enforcement with greater powers to disrupt the supply and distribution of these synthetic chemicals.
Arguments Against
Some harm reduction advocates have expressed concern that reclassification may lead to more clandestine production methods or the emergence of even more dangerous chemical analogues not yet covered by the Act.
Legal observers have noted that the speed of legislative updates may struggle to keep pace with the rapid development of new synthetic compounds by illicit laboratories.
Health organizations have argued that criminalization alone does not address the underlying demand for opioids or the need for expanded treatment and testing facilities.
- This Order may be cited as the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2024 and comes into force on 20th March 2024.
This section establishes the official name of the legal instrument.
It sets the commencement date for all new drug classifications as 20 March 2024.
- In Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971(2) (which specifies the drugs which are subject to control under that Act), in Part 1 (which specifies Class A drugs)— (a) in paragraph 1(a), after “Methadyl acetate” insert— “Metonitazene. Metodesnitazene (also known as metazene).”; (b) after paragraph 1(aa) insert— “(ab) any compound (not being a compound for the time being specified in sub-paragraph (a) above) structurally derived from 2-(2-benzyl-5-nitro-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl)ethanamine by substitution— (i) to any extent at the nitrogen atom of the ethanamine side-chain by alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl groups, or by inclusion of the nitrogen atom of the ethanamine side-chain in a cyclic structure; (ii) to any extent in the benzimidazole ring system by alkoxy, alkyl, alkylnitrile, halogen, nitro or trifuloromethyl groups; (iii) to any extent in the benzyl ring system by alkoxy, alkyl, alkylenedioxy, halogen, nitro or trifluoromethyl groups.”; (c) in paragraph 1(b)— (i) after “Piritramide” insert “Protonitazene.”; (ii) after “Sufentanil” insert— “2-Methyl-AP-237. N-Pyrrolidino etonitazene (also known as etonitazepyne). N-Piperidinyl etonitazene (also known as etonitazepipne). N-Pyrrolidino protonitazene (also known as protonitazepyne). Ethodesnitazene (also known as etazene). Isotonitazene. Etonitazene. Flunitazene. Clonitazene. Butonitazene. Nitazene.”; (d) in paragraph 1(c), after “4-Cyano-2-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenylbutane” insert “Cumyl-PeGaClone (also known as 2,5-dihydro-2-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-5-(2-phenylacetyl)-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indol-1-one).”.
This section adds fifteen specific synthetic opioids, primarily nitazenes such as metonitazene and protonitazene, to the list of Class A drugs.
It also introduces a generic definition to cover future variations of compounds derived from the nitazene chemical structure to prevent manufacturers from bypassing the law with minor chemical changes.
Additionally, it moves Cumyl-PeGaClone from Class B to Class A, increasing the legal penalties associated with its unauthorized use or distribution.
- In Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (which specifies Class B drugs), in paragraph 1(ca)— (a) omit “Cumyl-PeGaClone (also known as 2,5-dihydro-2-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-5-(2-phenylacetyl)-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indol-1-one).”; (b) after “1-Phenylcyclohexylamine” insert— “Diphenidine. Ephenidine. Methoxphenidine (also known as 2-MeO-diphenidine). Isophenidine.”.
This section removes Cumyl-PeGaClone from the Class B list, as it has been elevated to Class A. It also adds four specific substances—Diphenidine, Ephenidine, Methoxphenidine, and Isophenidine—to the list of Class B controlled drugs.
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