Changes to Misuse of Drugs Act automatically apply
Plans to make possession of Nitrous Oxide a criminal offence in the United Kingdom will be replicated on the Isle of Man.
The Department of Home Affairs says any changes made there will automatically apply.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak believes amending the Misuse of Drugs act, to make Nitrous Oxide a Class C substance, will reduce anti-social behaviour.
Importation, or production, of the gas is already illegal on the Island unless it’s for an exempted activity like medicine or dentistry.
The Department of Home Affairs told Manx Radio:
"The importation or production of Nitrous Oxide to the Island is already illegal, unless for an exempted activity such as healthcare, under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (of Parliament), as applied in the Isle of Man.
"As the UK is intending to ban Nitrous Oxide through amending schedules in their own Misuse of Drugs Act, it will automatically apply to the Isle of Man.
"This is because the Isle of Man’s Misuse of Drugs Act 1976 refers to specific schedules within the UK Act, including part III of schedule 2, which will be amended to include N2O."
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