Synthetic drugs banned

Sellers face tough penalties under new laws

GEELONG sellers of synthetic drugs will be hit by tough new laws banning their sale.

The State Government this week passed legislation making it illegal to sell, produce or advertise any substance that has a psychoactive effect — including notoriously dangerous synthetic cannabis.

Bellarine state Labor MP, and Police Minister, Lisa Neville, welcomed the new laws.

“Synthetic drugs are dangerous chemical cocktails masquerading as legal highs,” Ms Neville said.

“These new offences will put an end to their legal presence on Victorian streets.

“Anyone peddling these life-threatening psychoactive drugs now faces tough punish- ment including two years’ jail or more than $37,000 in fines.”

The new laws, which come into effect on November 1, also ensure current police search, seizure and forfeiture powers will also apply to psychoactive drugs.

Barwon Health, the region’s largest health service, yesterday declined to comment on the move.

Synthetic drugs are designed to mimic the effects of prohibited drugs like cannabis and ecstasy, while avoiding existing drug control laws.

They were linked to three Victorian deaths between 2013 and 2014.

Geelong has had a tough run with synthetic drugs in recent years, with their use implicated in violent crimes as well as serious hospitalisations.

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 placed 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.

Not everybody has welcomed the move, with adultsonly industry association Eros saying the move would likely backfire.

“The only way to truly tackle this issue is to look at alternatives to prohibition,” Eros general manager Rachel Payne said. “People only really wanted the synthetic cannabinoid products because they couldn’t access legal cannabis.”