HOME Secretary Alan Johnson is still waiting to hear from independent drug experts before deciding whether mephedrone should be made illegal.

The Advisory Council on Drug Misuse has made investigating the potentially deadly “legal high” drug a priority and is reviewing whether it should be added to the list of banned substances that includes heroin.

It was due to meet last week to discuss mephedrone and the Home Secretary revealed in Parliament at the beginning of February that he was hoping to hear from the council in early March.

A Home Office spokesman confirmed yesterday the council will report “as soon as possible”. Hundreds of people signed The Press’ petition to have the drug banned when our Menace of Mephedrone campaign hit the streets last week. The campaign was launched in January following the collapse of a 17-year-old pupil at Woldgate College in Pocklington after taking the drug, which is also commonly known as bubbles, meow meow or M-CAT, and can cost as little as £3 a dose.