New laws tough on synthetic drugs

PEDDLERS of synthetic drugs now face two years in prison and more than $38,000 in fines, after a new blanket ban came into effect yesterday.

The State Government laws made it illegal to produce, sell or promote substances that have a psychoactive effect, regardless of chemical make-up.

Bellarine MP and Police Minister Lisa Neville said the new laws would help take dangerous drugs off the street.

“From today anyone caught selling, producing or advertising these dangerous psychoactive drugs will face serious jail time or more than $38,000 in fines,” Ms Neville said.

“For too long these drugs had been passed off as safe, legal highs when in reality they’re just dangerous chemical cocktails.

“Our ban on synthetic drugs will help save lives.”

The State Government also brought in laws reducing the amount of methylamphetamine — or ice — required for commercial trafficking offences, which also came into effect yesterday.

“We have also given police new powers to put away ice dealers for longer by reducing the amount of ice required for commercial drug trafficking offences,” Ms Neville said.

Synthetic drugs were linked to three Victorian deaths between 2013 and 2014.

Geelong has not avoided harm from synthetic drugs, with their use implicated in violent crimes as well as putting victims in hospital.

In a three-week period in 2013 synthetic drugs caused multi-organ failure in three Geelong users.

The first victim used an unknown synthetic drug and was put on a ventilator in an intensive care unit with multiple organ failure. The second victim spent six days in ICU after using synthetic cannabis, and the third victim was placed on a ventilator.