This Supplementary Order Paper replaces clause 4 of the Psychoactive Substances (Increasing Penalty for Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill, which amends section 70 of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013.

The new clause 4 provides that the sentence is a maximum of 8 years’ imprisonment only if an individual has also been convicted of illegal manufacture or importation of psychoactive substances. In other cases, it would remain a maximum of 2 years’ imprisonment.

The Bill currently targets sale and supply of psychoactive substances, but there are many different types of people selling and supplying these substances. Those selling minimal amounts of psychoactive substances to fund addiction should not be dealt with in the same way as others.

The Bill does not change the approach to illegal manufacture and importation. These offences continue to have a sentence of up to 2 years’ imprisonment in the case of an individual.

This amendment seeks to differentiate between those who are only minimally involved in the distribution chain of psychoactive substances (only involved in sale and supply) and those who have a more substantive role as manufacturers or importers.