Government clamps down on synthetic drugs

The Newman Government has today launched an attack on the synthetic drugs trade announcing proposed changes to the law to get the products off Queensland streets.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie said synthetic drugs were marketed as a ‘legal high’ misleading people they were a safe alternative to illegal drugs.

“Synthetic drugs are just as dangerous as the real thing and have become more prevalent as illicit drugs become harder and more expensive to buy,” Mr Bleijie said.

“The use of synthetic drugs is a serious issue and there are parents out there who probably don’t even realise these products exist.

“Our proposed changes will close a loophole in the existing legislation that makes it easy for offenders to escape charges.

“In order for a synthetic drug to be banned under the current legislation it must have a substantially similar pharmacological effect to an illegal drug, but this is hard to prove.

“Drug cooks come up with new mixtures of synthetic drugs that have the same effect but are not yet banned because the chemical make-up is slightly different from a listed substance.

“The changes to the Drugs Misuse Act will cast the net wider to capture all synthetic drugs that are ‘intended’ to have the same effect as a scheduled dangerous drug.

“This will provide us with a ‘stop-gap’ measure to ban drugs between the time they hit the market and are then added as a scheduled drug.

“Amending the legislation will go a long way to getting these drugs out of the hands of Queensland children and put us ahead of the game.”

Mr Bleijie said there was no reason why a synthetic drug should be treated any differently to an illicit drug.

“I will be working closely with the Police Minister to ensure the fight against synthetic drugs remains a high priority for the Queensland Police Service,” he said.

“We want to send a clear message that synthetic drugs users will be given the same treatment as those who abuse any other drug.”

[ENDS] 18 November 2012

Contact: Lisa O’Donnell 0400 986 432 or Matt Johnston 0432 535 893