SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (14:29): Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier advise what action the government is taking to crack down on the availability of synthetic cannabinoids?

The SPEAKER: The Premier.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:29): Oh, he doesn't want to know. In recent months there has been growing—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure that members have had this occur in their electorate. Can you please listen to the Premier in silence. Premier.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Apparently, drugs are a laughing matter to the opposition. In recent months there has been growing evidence of the increasingly widespread sale of synthetic cannabis by those wishing to skirt around the state's tough drug laws. These products, which have been legally sold under product names such as Kronic, Spice and Northern Lights for approximately $40 per gram, are every bit as dangerous as natural cannabis and, indeed, possibly worse. The synthetic cannabinoids are products which are often added to herbal mixtures and then smoked by users, producing similar effects to natural cannabis which is known to cause a range of serious health problems.

According to leading pharmaceutical experts such as Professor Jason White from the University of South Australia, these substances have been developed by pharmaceutical companies apparently for research purposes. These are chemicals that I was told by the professor may not have been tested on humans whatsoever—may not have even been tested on rats, someone else told me—so there is no evidence of their health effects in terms of anything positive. In fact, it is suspected that the effects of these chemicals will be stronger than THC—and I know some people are talking about possibly up to 10 times stronger—which is the active chemical in cannabis.

The reports from both here in Australia and overseas are of users of these synthetic cannabinoids experiencing paranoia, anxiety, racing thoughts and irritability, hallucinations, tremors, convulsions, slurred speech, dilated pupils, elevated blood pressure, vomiting and chest pain. In fact, I read a report—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: I read a report in, I think, the New Zealand Herald which talked about up to two presentations a day at the emergency department of Auckland Hospital. I know that the New Zealand National Poisons Centre, which I think is based in Dunedin, was talking about the incidence in other hospitals around the country.

There have been also reports of withdrawal effects and dependence associated with the use of the product Spice Gold. Northern Lights Herbal Incense, manufactured again in New Zealand, has recently been sold in a retail outlet in Whyalla, and there has been a report of a person being treated at Whyalla Hospital as a result of its consumption.

However, Madam Speaker, I am not only concerned about the harmful health effects of these products but also the possibility that users are driving under their influence, posing a serious danger to themselves and others. I am advised that it is actually quite difficult for the synthetic cannabinoids to be detected by roadside drug testing units, which only further highlights why we need to remove these products from the market. That is why, last Friday, along with the Attorney-General and the Minister for Health, we decided to act swiftly and decisively to ban these products immediately.

As an interim measure, the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse has issued a notice under the Controlled Substances Act 1984. The notice immediately bans the sale, supply, possession or administration of the known synthetic cannabinoid substances. The maximum penalty is $10,000 or two years' gaol. The Controlled Substances Advisory Council has been asked to advise the government on the quantities that should be considered commercial and/or trafficable. This will be included in amendments to the Controlled Substances (General) Regulations which, subject to cabinet agreement, could be introduced as early as this Thursday.

This is a serious matter and some people ask why there was not greater notice given. Greater notice would have just simply given people an opportunity to buy up big. Of course, members opposite—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for Bragg!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: That is not true, actually. You would be aware of what happened in Western Australia when notice was given—chronic parties.