The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2024

Amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

2.—(1) Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is amended as follows.

(2) In Part 1 (which specifies the drugs which are subject to control as Class A drugs) in paragraph 1(a)(1)—

(a) after “Anileridine.” insert—

“AP-237 (1-[4-([2E]-3-phenyl-2-propen-1-yl)-1-piperazinyl]-1-butanone) (bucinnazine).

AP-238 (1-[2,6-dimethyl-4-[2E]-3-phenyl-2-propen-1-yl]-1-piperazinyl-1-propanone).

Azaprocin (1-[3-[(E)-3-phenyl-2-propen-1-yl]-3,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-yl]propan-1-one).”;

(b) after “Oxymorphone.” insert—

“para-methyl-AP-237 (1-[4-[2E]-3-(4-methylphenyl)-2-propen-1-yl]-1-piperazinyl-1-butanone).

para-nitroazaprocin (1-[3-[(E)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-propen-1-yl]-3,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-yl)propan-1-one).”;

(c) after “1-Methyl-4-phenylpiperdine-4-carboxylic acid.” insert—

“2-Methyl-AP-237 (1-[2-methyl-4-[2E]-3-phenyl-2-propen-1-yl]-1-piperazinyl-1-butanone).”.

(3) In Part 1 after paragraph 1(e)(2) insert—

“(ea) any compound (not being a compound for the time being specified in sub-paragraph (a) above) with a maximum molecular mass of 500 atomic mass units and structurally derived from 2-(2-benzyl-benzimidazol-1-yl)ethanamine by modification in any of the following ways, that is to say—

(i) by substitution at the nitrogen of the ethanamine to any extent by alkyl substituents containing up to three carbon atoms or alkenyl substituents containing up to three carbon atoms or by inclusion of the nitrogen atom (and no other atoms of the side chain) in a cyclic structure;

(ii) by substitution in the phenyl ring of the benzyl system to any extent by alkyl or haloalkyl containing up to six carbon atoms, alkoxy or haloalkoxy containing up to five carbon atoms, acetyloxy, hydroxy, cyano, halogen, thioalkyl containing up to five carbon atoms or alkylsulphonyl containing up to five carbon atoms;

(iii) by substitution at the 5- or 6- positions of the benzimidazole system by nitro, acetyl, cyano, methoxy, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy or halogen substituents;

(iv) by substitution at the benzylic carbon by a methyl group;

(v) by replacement of the benzylic carbon by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom;

(vi) by substitution in the phenyl ring of the benzyl system by an ethoxy group linked back to the phenyl ring to form a dihydrobenzofuran structure;

(vii) by replacement of the phenyl ring of the benzyl system by methylenedioxyphenyl.”.

(4) In Part 2 (which specifies the drugs which are subject to control as Class B drugs)(3) in the entry for Methoxyphenidine in paragraph 1(a), at the end (and before the full stop) insert “(1-[1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2-phenylethyl]piperidine) (methoxphenidine)”.

(5) In Part 3 (which specifies the drugs which are subject to control as Class C drugs)(4) in paragraph 1(a)—

(a) after “Aminorex.” insert—

“Bentazepam (5-phenyl-1,3,6,7,8,9-hexahydro-2H-[1]benzothieno[2,3-e][1,4]diazepin-2-one).”;

(b) after “Benzphetamine.” insert—

“Bretazenil (tert-butyl-8-bromo-11,12,13,13a-tetrahydro-9-oxo-9H-imidazo[1,5-a]-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine-1-carboxylate).”;

(c) after “Cathinone.” insert—

“4’-Chloro-deschloroalprazolam (6-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]benzodiazepine).”;

(d) after “Clobazam.” insert—

“Clobromazolam (8-bromo-6-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]benzodiazepine).”;

(e) after “Clonazolam (6-(2-Chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-8-nitro-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]benzodiazepine).” insert—

“Cloniprazepam (5-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-(cyclopropylmethyl)-7-nitro-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one).”;

(f) after “Delorazepam.” insert—

“Desalkylgidazepam (7-bromo-5-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one).

Deschloroclotizolam (2-chloro-9-methyl-4-phenyl-6H-thieno[3,2-f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]diazepine).”;

(g) after “Diethylpropion.” insert—

“Difludiazepam (7-chloro-5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-1-methyl-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one).”;

(h) after “Flubromazolam (8-Bromo-6-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-methyl-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]benzodiazepine).” insert—

“Flubrotizolam (2-bromo-4-(2-fluorophenyl)-9-methyl-6H-thieno[3,2f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3a][1,4]diazepine).

Fluclotizolam (2-chloro-4-(2-fluorophenyl)-9-methyl-6H-thieno[3,2-f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]diazepine).”;

(i) after “Fludiazepam.” insert—

“Fluetizolam (2-ethyl-4-(2-fluorophenyl)-9-methyl-6H-thieno[3,2-f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]diazepine).”;

(j) after “Fonazepam (5-(2-Fluorophenyl)-7-nitro-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one).” insert—

“Gidazepam (7-bromo-2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-5-phenyl-1H-1,4-benzodiazepine-1-acetic acid hydrazide).”;

(k) after “Mesocarb.” insert—

“Methylclonazepam (5-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-7-nitro-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one).”;

(l) after “Remimazolam.” insert—

“Rilmazafone (5-([(2-aminoacetyl)amino]methyl)-1-[4-chloro-2-(2-chlorobenzoyl)phenyl]-N,N-dimethyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide).”;

(m) after “Tetrazepam.” insert—

“Thionordazepam (7-chloro-5-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-thione).”;

(n) after “Triazolam.” insert—

“Xylazine.”.

(1)

Sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 1 was designated as such by S.I. 1977/1243. There are other amendments to Part 1 of Schedule 2 which are not relevant to this Order.

(2)

Sub-paragraph (e) was inserted by S.I. 1986/2230. S.I. 2024/190 brought fourteen nitazenes under control as Class A drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (“the Act”).

(3)

Sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 1 was designated as such by S.I. 1984/859. S.I. 2024/190 controlled methoxyphenidine as a Class B drug under the Act. There are other amendments to Part 2 of Schedule 2 which are not relevant to this Order.

(4)

Sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 1 was designated as such by S.I. 1996/1300. Relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1984/859, 1985/1995, 1986/2230, 1998/750, 2017/634, 2024/190. There are other amendments to Part 3 of Schedule 2 which are not relevant to this Order.