Premier & Trade
The Hon. Peter Beattie MP
20 December 2002
Government bans dangerous drugs quartet
The State Government today acted on early warnings from overseas to ban four dangerous drugs - three new designer drugs and a hallucinogenic plant.
Premier Peter Beattie and Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Rod Welford said the designer drugs BZP, TFMPP and 2C-I were banned in Queensland as of today.
They also announced the prohibition of Salvia divinorum, a plant that is chewed or smoked for LSD-like effects.
"These drugs are already a scourge overseas, and police intelligence reports suggest they could appear in Queensland," Mr Beattie said.
"We are banning them before they hit Queensland's streets, threaten the lives of young people and enrich the coffers of traffickers and dealers.
"The three designer drugs - sometimes referred to as 'Legal E' or 'Legal X' - are usually sold in tablet form and have been seized in the United States and Europe at venues frequented by young people, such as dance clubs.
"The overseas experience is that they may cause dangerous side-effects - and can kill.
"BZP is known to have caused a death in Switzerland.
"Such drugs - and the low-life who might profit from them - are not welcome in Queensland.
"We are acting now to add them to the banned list, so anyone thinking of importing or producing these drugs will be subject to Queensland's tough anti-drug laws.
"They are now Schedule 2 drugs under the Drugs Misuse Act.
"Anyone caught producing, trafficking or dealing in these drugs can expect up to 20 years in prison, and possession will carry a penalty of between 15 and 20 years in jail," Mr Beattie said.
Mr Welford said the decision to add Salvia divinorum to the banned list was a precaution based on its prevalence in the United States.
"Salvia divinorum is a dangerous hallucinogen often used as an LSD substitute," he said.
"It is chewed or smoked and can cause psychological problems or physical injury to people who lose control.
"This drug has not yet been found in Queensland, but we have decided to add it to our banned list so police have powers to act if it is discovered.
"It will now be a Schedule 2 drug with the same penalties for trafficking and dealing as the designer drugs.
"Our Government makes no apologies for going hard on drug manufacturers, traffickers and dealers.
"Those in our society who want to peddle evil and destroy lives by selling drugs of addiction should face maximum penalties," Mr Welford said.
The Premier and Mr Welford warned of an international trend for a range of new designer drugs - including BZP, TFMPP and 2C-I - to be passed off as 'Ecstasy'.
"We know drug dealers have been pushing 'Ecstasy' - a drug that has dangerous effects - as a good time party drug for several years, trying to get young people hooked," Mr Welford said.
"This is their next step - substitute a whole range of cheaper chemical cocktails with even more dangerous effects - under the guise of Ecstasy.
"The risk anyone takes in using Ecstasy could now be even greater because the tablets being pushed might be one of these other concoctions.
"Overseas, symptoms reported from these new designer drugs include increased heart rate, blood pressure and high body temperatures, hallucinations, convulsions and breathing difficulties."
Mr Welford said the decision to ban the four drugs was part of the Government's ongoing approach of vigilance against new drugs.
Contact:
Greg Milne (Attorney's office) 32393478
Fiona Kennedy (Premier's office) 3224 4500
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[ 23 December 2002: Message edited by: Flexistentialist ]