National ban on cannabis-like drugs

Eight synthetic cannabis-like substances will be classified as prohibited substances throughout Australia from 8 July, announced Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing Catherine King.

There have been widespread reports of abuse and symptoms, including severe hallucinations, psychosis and heart palpitations. There is a lack of evidence of any therapeutic value for these substances and their use poses potential health risks. The drugs mimic the effects of existing illicit substances, but have not been uniformly illegal across Australia because they fall outside current controls. “In response to calls for uniform restrictions on these types of substances, the Commonwealth has considered the matter and made a decision to prohibit eight of the most widely used and abused synthetic cannabinoids,” King said.

Australian Government restrictions on access to medicines and other chemical substances are determined through scheduling, a classification process. Commonwealth decisions on prohibiting a drug are made independently of the Australian Government, based on evidence and information available to the delegate. “This matter has been considered by a delegate who decided that uniform prohibition of eight of these substances was required across the nation,” King said.

“Therefore, from 8 July 2011, eight of the most widely misused of these drugs will be listed as prohibited substances. These restrictions will still allow access to these substances for use in strictly controlled medical and clinical studies to allow for appropriate investigation of any potential future therapeutic uses.” Further details of this decision and supporting reasons are available in the July 2011 Public Notice of final decisions by delegates for amendments to the Poisons Standard - available at www.tga.gov.au/industry/scheduling-decisions-final.htm.

The department’s delegate intends to also consider broader restrictions on synthetic cannabinoids and will seek advice on such restrictions from the October 2011 meeting of the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling. “On 10 August, the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s scheduling website will publish these proposed broader restrictions inviting public submissions on them.”