Citation, commencement and extent

1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Misuse of Drugs and Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (England and Wales and Scotland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 and come into force on 15th January 2025.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

Amendment of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001

2. —(1)The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001( 2 ) are amended as follows.

(2) In Schedule 1 (which specifies controlled drugs subject to the requirements of regulations 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 23, 26 and 27), in paragraph 1—

(a) in sub-paragraph (a)—

(i) in the appropriate places 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) ” ;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“ 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) ” ;

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

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

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

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

(ii) in the entry for Methoxyphenidine, at the end insert “(1-[1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2-phenylethyl]piperidine) (methoxphenidine)” ;

(b) after sub-paragraph (r) insert—

“ (s) 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. ” .

(3) In Schedule 4, in Part 1 (which specifies controlled drugs subject to the requirements of regulations 22, 23, 26 and 27), in paragraph 1 after “Triazolam” insert—

“ Xylazine ” .

Amendment of the Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (England, Wales and Scotland) Order 2015

3. In the Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (England, Wales and Scotland) Order 2015( 3 ), in Schedule 1, in Part 1 (which specifies controlled drugs to which section 7(4) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 applies), in paragraph 1—

(a) in sub-paragraph (a)—

(i) in the appropriate places 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) ” ;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“ 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) ” ;

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

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

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

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

(ii) in the entry for Methoxyphenidine, at the end insert “(1-[1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2-phenylethyl]piperidine) (methoxphenidine)” ;

(b) after sub-paragraph (y), insert—

“ (z) 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. ” .