3-MeO-2-Oxo-PCE – more colloquially known as clubbing drug ‘mexxy’ – has been temporarily classed as illegal by the UK government.

The substance will be verboten for up to twelve months whilst the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) consider whether to ban the drug permanently. As The Telegraph report, those caught producing or dealing the drug will be in violation of the Misuse Of Drugs Act 1971. The penalties include an unlimited fine and the possibility of up to 14 years in prison.

In a statement, Crime Prevention Minister Lord Henley said: “Making this drug illegal sends a clear message to users and those making and supplying it that we are stepping up our fight against substances which are dangerous and ruin the lives of victims and their families. But making drugs illegal is only part of the solution. It is important for users of these harmful substances to understand that just because they are described as legal highs, it does not mean they are safe or should be seen as a ‘safer’ alternative to illegal substances.”

Legislators have been keen to act following the deaths of Hugo Wenn, 17, and Daniel Lloyd. 25, both of whom were found dead with the drug in their system (it’s important to stress at this stage that the full cause of death hasn’t been confirmed as yet). The drug has also been implicated in the recent deaths of an unnamed 32 year old man and 59 year old woman.

‘Mexxy’ has long been considered a legal substitute for ketamine. As with ketamine, the drug is understood to attack the bladder, damage the veins, and exacerbate the risk of hypertension. The government’s firm stance certainly sends a clear message; the same can’t be said for Madonna, whose ill-advised onstage flirtation with club drug culture attracted criticism from all sorts of quarters (including Deadmau5, of all people).