TOUGH new NSW laws banning a range of synthetic drugs come into effect today

[The_horz]

In a statement, the Government said the new legislation made it an offence to possess, manufacture, supply or advertise "psychoactive substances''.

It said penalties for breaching the laws included a $2200 fine or two years imprisonment.

"There is no silver bullet to protect people from the scourge of these psychoactive substances, but the NSW government now has groundbreaking laws in place which will continue to make a significant impact,'' Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts said.

The new laws also make it an offence to possess, supply, or manufacture substances listed in Schedule 9 of the Commonwealth Poisons Standard, the O'Farrell government says.

Under the laws, it's also an offence to manufacture, supply or advertise any psychoactive substance for sale for human consumption.

The changes come after 45 new substances, which consist mainly of synthetic substances, were deemed prohibited drugs in September.

Minister for Mental Health, Kevin Humphries, said synthetic drugs were "a real danger to people's safety''.

"These products can contain untested chemicals, with unknown toxicity,'' he said.

"(Users) are playing Russian roulette with their health.''

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...-synthetic-drugs/story-fni0cx4q-1226734210051

Love it how they captured the dramatic effects of this stuff by using a video of a guy freaking out on something completely different (bath salts). Its the LBOMe / lsd thing all over again. This questions the authors credibility and research skills. If they are ever going to stop this they have to face FACT and stop this media dysentary.

 

[JessFR]

Far as I can tell from reading the amendment act, keeping in mind I'm not a lawyer. This basically considers absolutely any psychoactive substance to be illegal unless declared otherwise in other law and regulation (like caffeine for instance)

 

[edgarshade]

Nutmeg?

 

[Flynnal]

Good thing they did NOT include Phenibut, Baclofen, etc. These drugs are very beneficial as opposed to the BOMes and some certain synthetic cannabis derivatives which frankly caused the worst hallucinations I could have imagined alongside terrible anxiety.

It's true though that most any psychoactive substance would be deemed illegal unless there is a specific legislation referring to that substance. However, this only applies to NEW substances (ie, 2CB analogues, nBOMes, synthetic LSD type drugs, cannabinoids, novel narcotics (eg. Kratom, etc), and NOT existing substances - eg. barbiturates, chain-modified alcohols, benzos, phenibut, baclofen, antihistamines, etc - all of which have known effects.

 

[The_horz]

Or could it just be evolution?

 

[oldirtybizza]

I'm pretty sure a catch all clause will be brought in eventually in all the anglo countries.
I know in New Zealand they recently brought in a "substantially similar" clause, I recall recently reading about a man there charged for selling an unknown "ecstasy like" substance, which carried the same penalties as the real deal.

Pretty much if it gets you high and it's not booze, cigs or caffeine it's illegal. even ones that don't get you high could be illegal depending if the filth deem them substantially similar.

Personally I think it's a great idea since banning and making things illegal totally reduces their availability and usage.

 

[JessFR]

Nutmeg?

That's covered by existing regulation, the new amendment to the act only applies to substances not covered by other acts and regulation, So anything like a food additive, caffeine, nicotine, etc, are exempt, regardless of their being psychoactive. Basically this reverses the onus of legal unless otherwise stated to the reverse, illegal unless otherwise stated.

 

[23536]

Personally I think it's a great idea since banning and making things illegal totally reduces their availability and usage.

Do you have a source for that? The data out of the Netherlands and Portugal say that "legalization" has reduced usage.

 

[oldirtybizza]

^ Sarcasm dude. We should all be asking our politicians that question though .