(AGI) Dublin, March 11 - People in Ireland will be able to takesynthetic drugs like ecstasy legally for another 24 hoursthanks to a loophole in the country's drugs laws. For almosttwo days, drug use was free on the island as a result of the1977 'Misuse of Drugs Act', which was partially invalidated bythe Court of Appeal because it was judged unconstitutional. TheIrish government responded immediately by presenting anemergency legislation bill, which will go to the Senate onThursday morning before being sent to President Michael DHiggins for his signature. Then 24 hours must pass before thebill can take effect, which will certainly be after midnight onThursday. These synthetic drugs involve "serious health risksthat outweigh the perceived benefits," said Health Minister LeoVaradkar, adding that their sale, import and export remainedillegal in any case. "It is now important both from the pointof view of public health and justice that the legislation comesinto force as soon as possible," a government note said. The case started with the prosecution of Stanislav Bederev forpossession of methylethcathinone. In 2012, Bederev brought aHigh Court challenge seeking to stop his trial, claiming thenew regulations were unconstitutional. The Court of Appealgranted the appeal on Tuesday, making the possession of thesubstances on the list temporarily legal. According to thejudges, the new drugs were added over time to the 1977 law byseveral governments, without consulting the two Houses ofParliament (Oireachtas).. .