The Hungarian Government adopted Government Decree No. 66/2012. (IV. 2.) on licensed activities with narcotics and psychotropic substances, as well as new psychotropic substances, including the listing and amendment of the listing of these substances. The legislation became necessary following the rapidly growing trade of these new types of so called „designer drugs”, which are mainly distributed via the internet.

The increasing popularity of designer drugs is confirmed by the experiences of police authorities and the constantly growing number of drug-users requiring treatment due to the use of designer drugs. That is why several EU Member States, including Hungary, adopted appropriate regulations in order to control designer drugs.

Designer drugs are made by modifying the chemical structure of strictly controlled substances qualified as narcotic drugs, thereby retaining a similar psychotropic effect of the original substance. Since these new psychotropic substances were not listed on the drug prohibition list published in the related legislation, they could be legally traded and consumed. Regular chemical modifications could ensure an almost unlimited possibility of creating new designer drugs. Therefore, the amended Decree lists not only specific compounds, but groups of compounds as well. However, these substances might be more destructive than conventional drugs, which, due to their easy, legal availability, represents a special risk: young users do not realize the destructive effects designer drugs have on their bodies.

It is important that, from prohibition point of view, designer drugs fall under the same category as drugs, since this is the only way to prevent the uncontrolled trade and distribution of these substances. Any unlicensed activity involving these substances shall be penalized by up to three years in prison.

Following the European Commission’s approval, the Decree came into effect at the end of March 2012.

(Nemzeti Erőforrás Minisztérium)