The black market drug scene

Evidence has emerged of a black market dealing in a potent form of synthetic cannabis amid a drought of traditional cannabis in southern New Zealand and a growth in “P” on street drug markets.

Meanwhile the sale of illicit drugs online is growing through sites such as Facebook, Tinder, Snapchat and encrypted websites, a study reveals.

These findings are in the latest Massey University Illicit Drug Monitoring system (IDMS) that looked at the habits of 300 frequent illegal drug users from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in 2015 and 2016.

The leader of the illegal-drug research team at the Shore and Whariki Research Centre said availability and use of synthetic cannabis had fallen after a 2014 ban — but it seemed to be getting more potent.

Chris Wilkins said only 5 per cent of Ecstasy users reported having used synthetic cannabis, compared with 22 per cent in 2013, and the proportion who said it was “very easy” to obtain declined from 73 per cent in 2013 to 38 per cent in 2015.

But Wilkins spoke of evidence of an emerging black market with more potency in the synthetic drug.

“The proportion reporting the strength of synthetic cannabinoids was ‘high’ increased from 14 per cent in 2014 to 59 per cent in 2015.”

There were reports of a “cannabis drought” in Christchurch and Wellington that was also driving up prices.

Wilkins said this could reflect the rise in supply of synthetic cannabis.

Meanwhile the methamphetamine market remained healthy, with a growth of availability in Auckland and steady supply in the capital.

It was also cheaper, down to $668 in 2015 from $815 in 2011.

Wilkins said the trends were indicative of a larger drug market offshore.