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Dangerous Spice is still available despite the Tory legal highs ban - and use is even rising in some cases, a damning official report reveals.

The synthetic cannabis, accused of turning users into 'zombies', was covered by an Act of Parliament curbing 'new psychoactive substances' (NPS) in 2016.

Synthetic cannabis products were also made a Class B drug a few months later.

But a Home Office review of the Act says use of NPS, especially synthetic cannabis, in prisons "has continued or in some cases increased".

A London hospital study also found the number of patients with synthetic cannabis problems doubled from 7 to 15 a month.

And the review noted that some synthetic cannabis samples in Manchester were "up to 700 times stronger than what had previously been sold in head shops”.

(Image: MEN Media)

Overall the review found the "open sale" of NPS - previously known as legal highs - appears to have been largely eliminated.

But it said the trade has shifted underground to street dealers while 31 head shops have closed.

"Synthetic cannabinoids are no longer being sold in branded packets, and are now largely sold in clear snap bags," the review added.

"This may mean that users are now less aware of the substances that they are taking, which could also lead to greater harms."

It added: "Some areas of concern have remained or emerged since the Act, such as the supply of NPS by street dealers, the continued development of new substances, the potential displacement from NPS to other harmful substances, and continued high levels of synthetic cannabinoid use among the homeless and prison populations."

There was an explosion in the popularity of NPS on the drug scene around a decade ago.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

The drugs contain substances which mimic the effects of "traditional" illegal drugs like cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy.

Ministers brought forward the legislation to crack down on NPS after they were linked to dozens of deaths.

The Act came into force in May 2016, creating a blanket ban on the production, distribution, sale and supply of psychoactive substances in the United Kingdom for human consumption.

Offenders can face up to seven years in prison, while civil orders can be issued to shut down "head shops" and online dealers.

One of the main aims of the blanket ban was to close off a loophole in the previous regime.

The loophole meant new drugs appeared with a slightly altered chemical make-up almost immediately after the previous version was banned.

But the review said this objective "does not appear to have been achieved", pointing to indications the emergence of new NPS in the UK "has not ceased".