Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has had with Devon and Cornwall Police on tackling the availability and use of synthetic cannabinoid substances.

We have regular discussions with the National Police Chiefs’ Council on the issue of synthetic cannabinoids and we recognise how dangerous they can be and the devastating impact that they can have on communities, families and the individuals taking them.

That is why we acted to control these substances as class B drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in 2016, to give the police the powers they need to take action, including making possession illegal and delivering longer sentences for dealers.

This followed recommendations from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs that their harms are commensurate with other class B drugs.

However, we will continue to monitor their impact.