Queensland toughest on synthetic drugs

The Newman Government’s tough stance on synthetic drugs is making an impact, less than two months after new laws were passed.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie said offenders were already feeling the consequences and more than a score of new substances had been added to the state’s banned list.

“Our synthetic drug laws are the toughest in the country,” Mr Bleijie said.

“As far as the Newman Government is concerned, these so-called natural highs are just as dangerous as ‘real’ drugs, and offenders are already facing new, tougher penalties.

“Thanks to the excellent and swift work of police, a series of raids has already taken some of these substances off the streets.

“Just last month police in the Northern Region conducted two operations specifically targeting the unlawful supply of synthetic cannabinoids.

“About 7kg of synthetic drugs and four people were charged after Operation Lima Evergreen in Townsville and investigations are ongoing after 150g of synthetic cannabinoids were found at two Mt Isa businesses during Operation Lima Steward.

“While other jurisdictions simply ban specific substances, we’ve gone one step further.

“We have cast the net wide, making the possession, sale or trafficking of any substance with an intended similar effect to a dangerous drug a criminal offence.

“If you are caught with synthetic drugs in Queensland you face possible jail time.

“In the past, if a specific substance was banned, drug cooks could simply change the ingredients slightly and it would be back out on the street.

“The legislation now provides us with a ‘stop-gap’ measure to ban drugs between the time they hit the market and are then added as a scheduled drug.

“So far this year I have added 33 new substances to the Drugs Misuse Regulation and the combination of our new laws and the Regulation gives Queensland multi-level protection against this growing problem.

“I note New South Wales has joined the ranks in the fight against synthetic drugs and I congratulate the Fair Trading Minister for taking a stand.”

[ENDS] 14 June 2013

Media Contact: Ashley McDermid 0412 731 355 or Katherine Hornbuckle 0402 862 351