Should ketamine become a Class A drug? Tell us how you feel about its potential reclassification here

So, the UK government is considering reclassing ketamine as a Class A drug. The Home Office asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to “carefully consider” the issue. Do you think ketamine should count as a Class A drug? Vote on our poll to tell us how how feel about this issue.

Ketamine is very popular among students. The drug makes you less sensitive to pain, has hallucinogenic effects, and is cheaper than cocaine or MDMA. According to The Tab’s research, 19 per cent of UK uni students have tried ket at least once, and 22 per cent use it regularly.

However, ketamine can cause long-term damage to your kidneys and bladder. People use it to spike drinks in clubs.

Mixing ketamine with alcohol can be very dangerous. An 18-year-old student called Jeni Larmour died after taking ketamine and drinking alcohol on her first night at Newcastle University in 2020. Her mother is now campaigning for ketamine to become a Class A drug.

If the government does upgrade ket to a Class A drug, then people who use it could get longer prison sentences. Right now, the maximum prison sentence for producing or supplying ket is 14 years, but this would increase to a life sentence. If you’re found in possession of ket now, you could be fined an unlimited amount, or go to prison for five years. If ketamine becomes a Class A drug, then the maximum prison sentence for possessing it would go up to seven years.

Ketamine used to be considered a Class C substance, but in 2014 it was upgraded to a Class B drug.

So, do you think ket should be reclassified as a Class A drug? Use this poll to share your opinion.