Synthetic Cannabinoids Thread

[mcwally]

banning anything sold as synthetic cannabis I suppose now. Sounds like a wording things rather than a specific substance being banned.

Wonder how this affects herbal highs that are advertised to give an effect but don't really deliver or have any cannabinoids like damiana or something. Like omg they are selling it to be smoked not an incense and advertise a psycoactive effect.

 

[mcwally]

dble post

 

[grugz]

listing these chemicals as banned substances under the Poisons Act 1964. To complement this WA Police would make subsequent changes to the Misuse of Drugs Act.

I have no effing idea where inside both those acts it will be listed. I doubt they update databases to public that quick anyways

Been thru the posions act, cant find where listed drugs are..not even drugs like coke, md n meth..

 

[grugz]

banning anything sold as synthetic cannabis I suppose now. Sounds like a wording things rather than a specific substance being banned.

Wonder how this affects herbal highs that are advertised to give an effect but don't really deliver or have any cannabinoids like damiana or something. Like omg they are selling it to be smoked not an incense and advertise a psycoactive effect.

They could be doing that but doubt it. They are specificlly listing synthetic canabnoids

 

[justsayknow]

There was a comment somewhere from the premier suggesting that there are a number of compounds specifically listed. I'm guessing it would be the JWH series. Not sure which ones, I think he said 7 compounds were listed...

 

[Divine Moments]

Perth police close down kronic parties

Police have defended their decision to stop two Perth venues from hosting parties for users of the synthetic cannabis kronic overnight.

Kronic users were planning to gather at the The Bakery in Northbridge before the State Government's ban on kronic came into effect at midnight.

However, police shut down the venue just hours before the event was due to start.

A second event was then organised at a hotel in Inglewood but this was also cancelled after police intervention.

Assistant Police Commissioner Michelle Fyfe has told the ABC's morning program that police have a responsibility to ensure public safety.

"So it [the party] was about encouraging people to come along and binge smoke and drink," she said.

"We have enforcement responsibilities under the Liquor Control Act which includes ensuring that harm within licensed premises is minimised."

She said officers simply reminded the hotel's licensee of their responsibilities.

"The object of the officers attending the Civic Hotel was to make sure the licensee firstly knew what was being advertised at the event and what was likely to happen there and what their obligations were," she said.

"When weighing up the obligations that were placed upon them, they took the decision not to go ahead with the event."

She says officers did not take a heavy-handed approach.

"It wasn't like you had carloads of police officers arriving, but certainly licensing enforcement officers spoke to the licensee in the afternoon to make sure they understood their obligations."

However, Mike, a patron at the Civic Hotel last night, says there was a large police presence and he saw the licensee being threatened.

"[She was] surrounded by police officers and told there would be a huge fine if she allowed this event to go on," he said.

"There were carloads of them, carloads of plain-clothed police officers at the Civic Hotel.

"It's not a big pub and they stood out, there were heaps of them.

"They did leave en masse and two police officers stayed there all night, right through to closing time and the licensee was threatened, very directly threatened."

The licensee was unavailable for comment.

Western Australia this week became the first state or territory to ban synthetic cannabis.

 

[AyahuascaSeeker13]

Just got this info from a rep at the WA parliament... 3 hours of phone calls... and this is what is banned.

JWH - 018
JWH - 073
JWH - 122
JWH - 200
JWH - 250
CP 47,497
CP 47,497 C8 HOMOLOGUE

AND

Any product marketed as a cannabis alternative or named specifically "herbal incense". This also includes ACTUAL INCENSE sold at hippy shops! Hmmmm don't think they really thought about this one.

Hope this helps everyone.

 

[grugz]

Lol u called from melb...they woulda looked at caller id n went wtf

Well at least other states wil know what will be banned

 

[AyahuascaSeeker13]

Lol u called from melb...they woulda looked at caller id n went wtf

Well at least other states wil know what will be banned

I work for a semi-major newspaper here, and the whole office wanted a story on Kronic and what WA were doing. I guess they wanted to know what will happen down here... It is something which affects many people I know in WA, so I was happy to take the story.

I did get a few "You're in Victoria I see, why does it affect you" type responses from the Perth Police and a couple people I was transferred around to in Parliament lol.

 

[grugz]

Well its probs gona be same in other states to prevent loopholes

 

[Jabberwocky]

Just got this info from a rep at the WA parliament... 3 hours of phone calls... and this is what is banned.

JWH - 018
JWH - 073
JWH - 122
JWH - 200
JWH - 250
CP 47,497
CP 47,497 C8 HOMOLOGUE

AND

Any product marketed as a cannabis alternative or named specifically "herbal incense". This also includes ACTUAL INCENSE sold at hippy shops! Hmmmm don't think they really thought about this one.

Hope this helps everyone.

so all you hippies smoking green lettuce, nows the time to quit!

 

[poledriver]

Immediate ban on synthetic cannabis S A

South Australia has followed Western Australia in banning synthetic marijuana.

The drug is currently sold under different names and mimics the effects of cannabis.

The ban came into effect this afternoon and the state's Attorney-General, John Rau, says penalties of up to $10,000 will apply to people found guilty of selling the drug.

"There has been some discussion going on within government about some of the synthetic cannabis products that have been made available, in particular the product called 'kronic'," he said.

"The product is an untested chemical. That means people using the chemical have no real understanding, and nor do most experts have any idea about what these chemicals are doing to people's bodies."

Premier Mike Rann had earlier suggested legislation would be introduced to ban the drug but now says the Government will regulate against it.

"The great thing about being able to do it this afternoon, if we were saying it's going to be banned from a month's time then there'd be people going out there wanting to buy it up," he said.

"What we didn't want to see is a whole lot of people rushing out over the next couple of weeks while we got legislation through stocking up and driving on our roads."

Opposition spokesman Stephen Wade says the ban could go further.

"We want to make sure the whole production process in relation to synthetic cannabis is made illegal," he said.

The president of the South Australian branch of the Australian Medical Association, Peter Sharley, supports the ban.

He says the drug has dangerous side effects.

"Particularly side effects of restlessness and paranoia and agitation," he said.

Dr Sharley says there should be a nation-wide ban on the drug.

Western Australia was the first state in the country to make the drug illegal, with a ban coming into effect earlier today.

here

 

[poledriver]

[NZ] Teen death: Kronic's role probed

An investigation is under way into what role synthetic cannabis may have played in a car crash that claimed the life of a teenager.

Liam Christopher Stevenson, 16, died when his car crossed the centre line and collided with a container truck on May 19 in Dunedin.

The Weekend Herald has learned that Kronic synthetic cannabis was found in the wreckage of his car.

Yesterday, Dunedin police declined to comment as the matter was before the coroner.

Liam, an Otago Polytechnic student, was described by his former principal at Logan Park High School, Jane Johnson, as a "bright young man" with a lot of ability.

The Government yesterday announced tough new measures against synthetic cannabis.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne said that within weeks, the Government would have the ability to "severely curtail" the marketing and sale of the drugs, which mimic the effects of cannabis but are not illegal.


Last night, Prime Minister John Key told the Weekend Herald that he backed the action.

"The sooner the better," he said.

But one health professional said the changes did not go far enough and drugs like Kronic would still be widely available in dairies.

Dr Leo Shep, a toxicologist at the National Poisons Centre in Dunedin, said: "We have these kids who don't know what they're doing.

"They need to be protected by the law, and they're not being protected by the law.

"My beef is that it's so accessible. That's what I find so galling ... You can go to your local dairy and buy it."

Synthetic cannabis products are barred under the Smoke Free Environments Act from being sold to anyone under 18.

But Mr Dunne said police would now "feel more confident they have a package of things to enforce".

As a restricted substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act, synthetic cannabis will not be able to be sold at petrol stations, places where children gather, such as recreational facilities, or where alcohol is sold.

Products will have to be stored in child-proof containers carrying the phone number of the National Poisons Centre, and information on ingredients and health warnings.

The drugs will still be able to be sold at dairies, but advertising will be restricted to within the store, in a similar way to tobacco.

Mr Dunne said those restrictions would ensure sales were largely limited to "the person who knows that's the store to go buy it".

He denied that group now included most young people.

"I'm not sure the cat's out of the bag permanently. It's certainly having a bit of a run around the field at the moment".

Synthetic cannabis had been due to become a restricted substance by April, but Mr Dunne said that would now happen about mid-August.

Yesterday's announcement came after the Herald reported that:

* Auckland City Hospital's emergency doctors often treat one or two synthetic cannabis users a day.

* The National Poisons Centre receives about 10 calls a month about the drugs - a sharp increase.

* Synthetic cannabis is being sold to minors - one Newmarket dairy sold Kronic to a 15-year-old in a Herald "sting" without asking for ID.

The Government will also consider a Law Commission recommendation to make firms gain permission before selling synthetic drugs.

The would-be seller would have to prove the drugs were safe.

Such products can now be sold unless they are proven harmful.

Mr Dunne said he felt the recommendations gave a long-term solution to regulating the drugs.

But he said action would not be taken on them until after the election.

"We're under certain statutory requirements and we have the complications of a general election occurring in the middle of it."

Western Australia's Health Minister, Kim Hames, said on Monday that the state would ban synthetic cannabinoids such as Kronic.

The law changes
* Synthetic cannabis will not be sold at petrol stations or where alcohol is sold or at places where children gather such as recreational facilities.

* It will be packaged in child-proof containers with information on substances, health warnings, and the National Poisons Centre's phone number.

* Advertising will be restricted to within stores, much the same way as tobacco.

* Changes expected by mid-August.

here

 

[Sustanon]

I dont understand how can they ban sumfn within a day. I know in Europe most of the time it can take up to months.

 

[grugz]

simple,

Either its a private members bill

or introduced by party in power.

Since its about people getting high, there is alot of support, and little to no rebuttal, therefore there is no need to debate and then its passed through majority vote. since its simple amendments to current acts, the whole act does not need to be debated n scrutnised

 

[drug_mentor]

LOL at banning anything marketed as 'herbal incence' thats fucking crazy, I reckon it will take some time after the legislation for this shit to disappear, as the manufacturers will try stay ahead of the laws with new blends and also the majority of old stock will be sold regardless of its legal status.

I am curious how they think its fair on any small time distributors of this product who may have a considerable amount of this product to be told oh your product is illegal overnight you hafta bin it now and cant recoup your loss. Common sense says the majority of the stores currently selling it will atleast sell off their old shit, perhaps a bit more discretely.

I dunno that outlawing this junk is inherently a bad thing from a HR point of view, I don't personally support the restriction of any recreational substances but I do think that our current drug laws create an unfortunate scenario where a lot of people overindulge in legal highs and RC's in the almost universally mistaken belief they are safer than common illicit drugs.

 

[AyahuascaSeeker13]

QLD Government want to now ban this stuff, because the mining industry says it should. This is slowly becoming a joke... A joke on the government.

A Kronic problem in the workplace?
Dan Nancarrow
June 7, 2011

Land Blocks From $145,000AspenLiving.com.au/Land
Surrounded By Beautiful Beaches. Real Estate Land, Don't Miss Out.

Kronic 3 gram packet: Legally available in Queensland. Photo: Darren Pateman
The Queensland mining industry has called on health authorities to look into the legality of synthetic cannabis amid concerns miners could be using the product on dangerous worksites.

Marijuana replacement product Kronic is sold in stores around Brisbane and Queensland such as Off Ya Tree, as well as being readily available through online distributors.

The Australian Medical Association has called for the product to be banned in Western Australia over concern employees in dangerous work environments, such as miners, were not able to be stopped from using the product.

Advertisement: Story continues below

The Queensland Resources Council referred concerns about the drug to the Health Minister Geoff Wilson's office after Triple J's Hack program brought the product to the council's attention last month.

Hack revealed miners nationwide were using the drug which delivers similar highs as marijuana but is made of a mix of herbs, chemicals and synthetic cannaboids.

A subsequent investigation by the council did not find evidence of the drug being used at members' mines.

Council spokesman Jim Devine said Queensland mining companies had not been testing for the drug because the product had not been listed as banned.

"It is not illegal to have this stuff in your bloodstream, so it is a bit like saying 'you are too hopped up on caffeine you can't come in', there's no illegality in having caffeine," he said.

"So until such time that this is declared one way or the other we can't act because we'll end up in court."

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said he had been informed that the Council of Australian Health Ministers had sought urgent advice from officials and the Therapeutic Goods Administration about Kronic.

Health authorities in Queensland have called on the TGA to look at whether active ingredients of Kronic can be added to the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons.

Cannabinoids are listed as a dangerous drug under the Drugs Misuse Act, but it is believed the chemicals used in synthetic cannabis make the legality of the drug unclear.

Happy High Herbs founder and director Ray Thorpe said the drug was widely available in Brisbane stores and other parts of Queensland.

But he refused to stock the drug himself because he believed it was "too strong".

Mr Thorpe said he believed the product should be regulated by government, not banned.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/que...e-workplace-20110606-1fp1f.html#ixzz1PgIIcm4d

This:

Happy High Herbs founder and director Ray Thorpe said the drug was widely available in Brisbane stores and other parts of Queensland.

But he refused to stock the drug himself because he believed it was "too strong".

Mr Thorpe said he believed the product should be regulated by government, not banned.

- He doesn't stock it, as they now have their own brand, which was marketed at the wellbeing expo as a "safe" alternative. What a joke this guy is.

 

[poledriver]

[NZ] Synthetic cannabis rules 'welcome'

A major manufacturer of synthetic cannabis has welcomed regulation of the products and is confident they can be proven safe and sold long-term.

Auckland-based Enjoi Products has manufactured the Illusion and Amsterdam Cafe brands of synthetic cannabis since 2005.

The company's managing director, Zaid Musa, said he backed making synthetic cannabis a restricted substance as a way to clean up the industry.

"There's a lot of other manufacturers in the industry, who have just learned how to make [synthetic cannabis].

"They don't care how they make it, as long as they make it strong. And they sell it too cheaply as well, so kids can get their hands on it."

On Friday, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne announced that moves to limit the sale and advertisement of R18 synthetic cannabis products would be accelerated.

The announcement came a day after Mr Dunne was informed by the Herald that Auckland City Hospital's emergency doctors often treat one or two synthetic cannabis users a day.


Most of those patients are aged between 16 and 21.

Before the next election the Government will also consider a Law Commission recommendation to make firms get permission before selling synthetic drugs.

The would-be seller would have to prove the drugs were safe.

Such products can now be sold unless they are proven harmful.

The Government has signalled the recommendation could provide a long-term solution to regulating the drugs.

Mr Musa said the changes would mean only larger and more established companies would be able to afford tests to prove their products' safety.

"But we're going to do it the right way. And we've been waiting for laws like this to come into place."

He was confident Illusion and Amsterdam Cafe could be proven safe.

Very little is known about the health effects of synthetic cannabis, and Institute of Environmental Science and Research scientist Keith Bedford has said the lack of knowledge was appalling.

However, the report released by the Law Commission labelled total prohibition a last resort.

"There is certainly reason to believe that appropriately regulating these substances may be more effective at minimising drug-related harm than prohibiting them altogether."

It would be unfortunate if the opportunity to test that theory was wasted, the commission said.

Keith Marshall, the distributor of Illusion and Amsterdam Cafe, said while regulation was welcome, the negative publicity that spurred it was not.

The managing director of the more well-known Kronic brand, Matthew Wielenga, has boasted of receiving millions of dollars of free marketing from the media.

But Mr Marshall said although their sales had grown with the publicity, he felt the industry was nearing tipping point.

"We had the same problem with BZP. The extra push made by a lot of manufacturers was almost a suicidal lemming-like thing that caused the legislation to arrive, possibly faster.

"We almost feel like Kronic is killing the goose that lays the golden egg. It's going all-out to antagonise the very hand that's feeding it."

Western Australia's Health Minister, Kim Hames, announced last Monday that the state would ban synthetic cannabinoids such as Kronic.

Mr Dunne told the Herald he understands the state's mining industry pushed for the ban because workers were using Kronic, which cannot be identified by normal drug tests.

Mr Marshall said Kronic had been advertised in Western Australia as a way to avoid being caught by workplace drug testing. "Kronic has gone out of its way to be controversial."

here

 

[Mysterie]

War on drugs a failure

Source: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/shepherd-war-on-drugs-a-failure/story-fn6br25t-1226078790711

Date: 21/06/11

Paper: The Advertiser

IT can make you paranoid and irrational, prone to stupid decisions and can ultimately cause grave harm.

Yes, it's the moral panic over drugs. The latest burning issue is synthetic dope.

Kronic (or Puff, or Voodoo, or Kaos) was happily crossing the counter of many a hippie herbal high store until the mining industry realised its employees were using it to rort their drug-testing systems.

Often sold as incense, it's made from herbs sprayed with chemicals that mimic the effects of marijuana.

WA quickly moved to ban Kronic, so people in possession now face fines of up to $100,000 or 25 years in jail. Victoria is planning to follow suit.

Then South Australian pollies, with a burst of speed so surprising it makes one suspect performance enhancement, managed to prohibit the drug the very day after The Advertiser published doctors' calls to make it illegal.

Drugs are such an easy target for politicians. The getting-tough approach fits seamlessly with their worship of working families, caring for the kiddies and cracking down on all the nasty junkie types.

Many of them and their constituents probably smoked an innocent summer spliff themselves, but the haze of time has washed away their sense of perspective.

Kronic, like marijuana, can have terrible effects. These include high heart rates, paranoia, anxiety, restlessness. People are ending up in hospital with nausea, vomiting. There is one reported case of someone becoming addicted.

There is one case in New Zealand where Kronic may have been a factor in a fatal car crash. It's possible that Kronic is more potent than much home-grown dope, which can also trigger psychosis.

So put it in plain packaging, restrict its sale to adults, stop advertising. Make people aware of the health threats. Don't threaten to put people in jail.

Making another drug illegal is inconsistent, impractical and downright stupid.

It's inconsistent because of the number of legal substances that are more dangerous. Alcohol is always the most obvious example. Alcohol can kill people slowly and surely or with devastating swiftness. It tears at society's fabric, can ruin families, leads to violence and car accidents and destroys internal organs.

Yesterday's Australian reported that thousands of children are suffering from foetal alcohol spectrum disorder; brain damage from their mothers' drinking habits. Emergency rooms overflow on weekends and holidays as people hurt themselves and others.

Then there's cigarettes, abuse of legal narcotics; a thousand ways people can make themselves ill.

But inconsistency is not the biggest problem with outlawing Kronic - putting drug offenders in jail is far more dangerous..

 

[Mysterie]

Its good to see forward thinking in a mainstream paper often referred to as "the rag"

I dont really see the appeal of kronic though tbh, but then again i dont even like weed that much

but we should at least have it legal