Gawd .. I'd have hate to have seen you before the adjustment was made ..Originally Posted by Akzle
Anarchic Wild Child
Gawd .. I'd have hate to have seen you before the adjustment was made ..
"So if you meet me, have some sympathy, have some courtesy, have some taste ..."
Forum whore
How totally ridiculous that we appear to be on the brink of legalising and regulating synthetic cannabis while the natural alternative still remains a criminal offence.
Hardcore Biker
As much as I'd like to agree they just made more of it illegal. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/poli...high-chemicals
And the Switched On Gardener bosses just got done on charges related to selling and owning weed growing equipment, looks like we'll have to wait longer for legalization (or decriminalization), the idiots still run this country, unfortunately.
Sent from my XT535 using Tapatalk 2
Que?
Clearly.
I'll take one for the team too. A trip please, it's been aaaages.
Consider it done.
Trying to be a good dog
Drugged teenagers 'out of their minds'
TRACEY CHATTERTON
Last updated 1/5/13
Violent and psychotic teenagers high on synthetic cannabis are filling up police cells and hospital emergency departments.
Five people from Bay of Plenty, Canterbury and Nelson have been admitted to hospital with severe kidney failure in recent weeks, after smoking legal synthetic cannabis drugs.
Emergency department doctors were also treating more people with convulsions, vomiting, paranoia and psychosis after having taken the legal highs.
The rise in cases comes as Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne announced a Temporary Class Drug Notice yesterday, banning two more substances found in tested samples of K2 synthetic cannabis.
Police and the Hawke's Bay District Health Board have begun a radio campaign warning the public of the dangers of taking K2.
Hawke's Bay emergency department doctor Brad Sandleback saw at least one patient every shift suffering from the effects of K2 or other synthetic cannabis products.
It was frustrating that people coming in "out of their minds" were sucking up precious hospital resources, Dr Sandleback said.
Security staff were often called upon to watch over agitated and sometimes violent patients.
Doctors could provide "supportive" care only, calming patients and giving them plenty of fluids. There is no antidote.
Doctors were also worried that more people were coming in with "enduring symptoms", National Poison Centre toxicologist Leo Schep said.
Psychotic reactions could last for weeks or even months. Parents were ringing the centre's helpline worried that their sons or daughters were still experiencing psychotic reactions, although they had stopped taking the drug.
Dr Schep said synthetic cannabis products were designed to "lock into" a certain part of the brain.
"Smoking these is like playing Russian roulette."
Eastern district police spokeswoman Kris McGehan hoped the radio advertisements on The Edge and Mai FM would deter young people from buying the drugs.
Police had no jurisdiction over shops selling the legal highs. However, communities around the country were rallying together to try to stamp out their use.
A group of Napier parents, calling themselves the Nanny Brigade, had taken to protesting outside Maraenui shops selling the legal highs.
They wanted to persuade people to take their business elsewhere until the shops stopped stocking them.
In Timaru, dairies agreed to stop selling synthetic cannabinoids after an appeal from mayor Janie Annear.
Mr Dunne's temporary bans, which will come into effect on May 9, bring to 35 the number of substances banned under temporary notices. More than 50 products containing those substances are now off the market.
His Psychoactive Substances Bill, expected to become law in August, will ban all "legal high" products unless their makers can prove they are safe
Dr Sandleback said he had dealt with the effects of legal highs while working in the United States about 10 years ago. "By outlawing it, the problem virtually disappeared."
Churches are monuments to self importance
Trying to be a good dog
Synthetic cannabis 'ruined my life'
By Mike Dinsdale of the Northern Advocate
1:50 PM Monday Apr 29, 2013
In the experience of Whangarei man Hugh Van Harlingen, synthetic cannabis product K2 is dangerous and should be banned immediately. Photo / Michael Cunningham
A Whangarei man says smoking synthetic cannabis caused seizures that led to his losing his job and left him unable to drive for 12 months.
Hugh Van Harlingen, aged in his 50s, is urging others not to experiment with the "dangerous substances."
He says smoking synthetic cannabis product K2 was the biggest mistake he ever made. Mr Van Harlingen decided to go public after reading in Wednesday's Northern Advocate that Whangarei lawyer Dave Sayes had written to the Government urging an immediate ban on synthetic cannabis products.
"I saw that article and just had to speak out ... I had to let others know what I have been through after smoking K2. K2 ruined my life and I don't want others to go through it," he said.
Mr Van Harlingen said he had been a cannabis smoker, but gave the habit up before trying K2 about five months ago after friends said he might enjoy it.
But two months later his life was in tatters after he lost his job due to getting seizures in the workplace, fits that also led to his being banned from driving until he had been seizure-free for 12 months, because medical experts could not be sure they would not happen again.
"I wasn't a heavy user of K2, just a couple of nights a week to help me relax after work, and I thought that because it was legal it must be safe. But boy was I wrong. It's caused me major problems."
About two months after starting smoking K2 he had had a seizure at work, the morning after having a toke at home.
"It was the first time I ever had anything like that happen to me. I just completely blacked out and can't remember anything about it, but I was fitting, and my arms and legs were jerking about and I was foaming at the mouth," he said.
"All I can remember is waking up in the ambulance on the way to hospital wondering what the hell was going on, but I didn't link it to K2 at that stage."
He was taken to hospital, but doctors were unable to find out what was wrong. His workplace stuck by him, but said he would not be able to drive any of its vehicles. Then a short time later he had another seizure at work and he had to be let go because of his inability to drive and concerns over workplace safety.
Mr Van Harlingen admits he didn't read the instructions on the K2 closely, but assumed it would be like cannabis, given that it was marketed as synthetic cannabis. "But it was different from cannabis and much worse. There was something odd about the feeling it gave."
While the doctors were struggling to find out what was wrong with him, the seizures ceased within days of quitting K2 and now, three months later, he has not had another.
"Now I'm on a sickness benefit and nobody will employ me because I can't drive for 12 months and because I've had seizures at work. It's messed my life up big time," Mr Van Harlingen said.
A Psychoactive Substances Bill has been tabled in Parliament by Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne and is expected to pass by August 1. The bill will restrict the importation, manufacture, and supply of psychoactive substances and only allow the sale of psychoactive substances that can meet safety and manufacturing requirements.
But Mr Van Harlingen said August was too long to wait: "It needs to happen now. This stuff is just too dangerous."
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
Churches are monuments to self importance
Trying to be a good dog
Lawyer calls for synthetic cannabis ban
By Mike Dinsdale of the Northern Advocate
2:10 PM Wednesday Apr 24, 2013
A Whangarei criminal lawyer has asked for synthetic cannabis to be banned. Photo / File
A criminal lawyer has written to the Health Minister asking him to ban synthetic cannabis products immediately, saying they are just as dangerous as methamphetamine.
Whangarei lawyer Dave Sayes, who has been working in Northland's courts for more than 20 years, is concerned about the effects of synthetic cannabis products such as K2 due to the "psychosis, paranoia, seizures and gratuitous violence in seemingly non-violent people" he claims they cause.
"I've had a number of people and clients approach me over the last three months about K2, and other synthetics, and the erratic behaviour they are causing to people who use them," Mr Sayes said.
"It's turning people violent. It's turning people ugly. It's got the same effects that methamphetamine has.
"But it's readily and easily available and it's legal. It should be banned straight away."
Mr Sayes has written to Health Minister Tony Ryall asking him to immediately ban such products and the letter has been passed on to Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne, who is leading the charge against synthetic cannabis and party pills.
Mr Dunne's Psychoactive Substances Bill has been tabled in Parliament and is expected to pass by August 1. The bill will restrict the importation, manufacture, and supply of psychoactive substances and only allow the sale of those psychoactive substances that can meet safety and manufacturing requirements.
But Mr Sayes said that is too far away and the products were causing real harm in Northland now.
"It's out there and it's a real problem. It's got the same buzz as methamphetamine and is causing bizarre behaviour in people, including provoking extreme acts of gratuitous violence in people who have not been violent before," he said.
His pleas follows community campaigns in various parts of the country against the sale of synthetic cannabis products and warnings by doctors about extreme reactions in patients presenting at emergency departments after taking the substances.
Edward Jones sells a range of legal synthetic cannabis products from his Vine St, Whangarei store The Brew Store and said it was a simple matter of supply and demand.
"It's legal at the moment and we are an R18 shop and ask for ID from most people," Mr Jones said.
He said alcohol and tobacco were also legal and the damage those two drugs caused was well documented, but he welcomed the Psychoactive Substances Bill.
"It will get rid of the people that don't have any controls [on sale and content] in place."
He said most people buying synthetic cannabis were in their 30s or 40s and many of them professionals.
People can smoke it and not have to worry much about drug testing at their employment, Mr Jones said.
"It's an alternative to cannabis, which is why there's a market," he said.
Meanwhile, Northland police Senior Constable James McCullough said police had real concerns about retailers who choose to stock synthetic cannabinoid products.
"We are encouraging all Northland retailers not to stock synthetic cannabinoid products for their own health and the health of our community."
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
Churches are monuments to self importance
Trying to be a good dog
Young teens using synthetic cannabis
BEN STRANG
Last updated 11:57 29/04/2013
Police are warning parents about synthetic cannabis products being used by young teenagers in Kapiti.
Senior Sergeant Alasdair Macmillan said Kapiti police had experienced an increase in the number of youths using synthetic cannabis, which is a restricted 18-over product. But lately teenagers as young as 14 have been found with the drug.
"They were found with the Tai High Silver Pearl product. They are strictly R18 and have caused quite a few issues in Porirua of late.
"It can cause severe paranoia, and in one case a young lady was taken to hospital with particularly bad side effects," Mr Macmillan said.
He urged parents to be aware of the synthetic cannabis and ensure young children do not use the products.
"They have a very long list of side effects. I'd urge parents to be aware of these and also for those who are experimenting, using these synthetic cannabis products."
- Kapiti Observer
Churches are monuments to self importance
Trying to be a good dog
audio link of Dr Leo Shep
http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/mnr/mnr..._drugs-048.mp3
Scientist pushing K2 ban : natural Cannabis less harmful
Wednesday, 24 April 2013, 3:05 pm
Press Release: NORML
Scientist pushing K2 ban agrees natural Cannabis less harmful
In an interview on National Radio Dr Leo Schep, the toxicologist behind the Kronic ban, admitted that natural cannabis is less harmful than synthetic products currently available.
In a segment on the Nine to Noon programme a Mosgiel mother called for an immediate ban on K2 after her son experienced behavioural problems, and Dr Schep discussed Peter Dunne's Psychoactive Substances Bill, aimed at curbing the harms of synthetic cannabinoids.
Dr Schep said "synthetic cannabinoids are a hyped up version of marijuana... these were designed to lock into parts of the brain... more severely and stronger."
And when pressed by Kathryn Ryan as to whether we have "got a perverse situation at the moment where perhaps the more dangerous product is the legal one and the other is illegal." Schep agreed and said "you're right, you're absolutely right".
Although Ms Ryan mentioned potential issues arising from a black market, Dr Schep concluded "If they were taken out of the dairy today we would cut our problem in half".
But Otago NORML spokesman Abe Gray thinks we can get rid of the entire problem and address black market issues by allowing natural cannabis to be legally bought and sold.
"The demand for K2 would be wiped out overnight if users could legally buy natural cannabis instead of having to turn to the black market which only profits the gangs," Mr Gray said.
The Mosgiel mother admitted her son had been a user of natural cannabis but found it hard to get so he switched to synthetics. It wasn't until he started smoking K2 that the behavioural problems arose.
ENDS
Aio ki te Aorangi
Like legalising the real stuff perhaps
I didn't think!!! I experimented!!!
Forum whore
And doing so would see the synthetic shit gone virtually overnight.Like legalising the real stuff perhaps
(It would appear that last night's Seven Sharp segment on 'legal highs' was somewhat misleading. I'm pleased to hear that moves are still underway to make it harder for these products to make it on to the market. I just hope that animals are not expected to be subjected to the testing that will be required of the products).
Aio ki te Aorangi
Very true.
... animal testing. screw that, give it to human beings as they're the end recipients and are able to provide feedback. Failing that, just get the natural 'erb on the market.
Where it's at...
Interesting you should say that...I start work on a control trial for synthetics next week (running the trial that is not being the GP) so will have to post some information as things progress.Very true.
I am not a fan of synthetics at all...and I come from the position of having contracted as an EA to the GM of a company called Lightyears Ahead so have had exposure to the industry form the inside of things and have sampled the product so as to have been in a position to comment and all I can say is yuk not for me. In saying that I do smoke pot marijuana from time to time. No stoner though.
Om nom nom.
Hardcore Biker
Very true.
there is no benefit in that....no much better to test the legal high that causes seizures, violent behavious etc etc on animals. At least some laboratorys will make some money - governmental dole anyone?
If this will go through, than really we are a fucked up society with absolutely no moral compass what so ever.
As for cannabis, as much as I would like to see it de-criminalised, this ain't gonna happen, to many interests involved in keeping it a criminal activity.
squeek squeek
Forum whore
Does this trial involve testing on animals?
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks