Sadly, monkey dust has become a drug used all too often across Stoke-on-Trent.
Therefore, Jonathan has welcomed recent news which has suggested about monkey dust is likely to be reclassified from a Class B drug to a Class A.
The Policing Minister has asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to consider whether these substances should be made to Class A drugs to help keep communities safe.
By monkey dust becoming a Class A drug, criminals who are caught selling this drug would face a life sentence in prison. The hope of this becoming reality would mean that the drugs would become harder to access and penalties for possession would become considerably tougher. Monkey dust particularly being rife in Stoke-on-Trent doesn’t only affect those taking it themselves but also the environment in the community for others, putting the safety of Stoke-on-Trent’s streets at risk.
Hallucinations, psychosis, involuntary body movements and Hulk-like strength are just some of the reported harrowing effects of monkey dust, with reports in The Sun recently highlighting a number of horrifying cases.
Jonathan alongside Jack Brereton, has lobbied in getting the government to review the classification of monkey dust. This is not only for stricter regulations but also support for people who do have a drug addiction, helping them to get that extra support to turn their lives around.
Over the last summer recess Jonathan himself was proud to join the brave Staffordshire police officers on a drug raid of a suspected county lines operation. Sadly, a rise has been seen in the amount of drug users and Jonathan is working tirelessly to do what he can to help tackle this.
Jonathan has mentioned monkey dust in Stoke-on-Trent throughout parliamentary debates and Jack Brereton secured a fantastic and important debate on monkey dust, in which Jonathan said:
“In 2018, this was described as an epidemic in Stoke-on-Trent, and we are sadly back there again. It is a drug which takes advantage of vulnerable people, creates severe mental health issues and that’s why I implore residents of Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke to sign Jack Brereton’s petition. Does he agree with me that what we want is not just reclassification but actually additional support to Staffordshire Police to catch these criminals who are pushing this filth on our streets”
Please sign Jack’s petition below to make a difference