The State Coalition Government is bringing in new laws that will enable swift action to ban emerging drugs of concern said Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull.

“The emergence of synthetic substances, which produce similar effects to illegal drugs such as cannabis, are a threat to public health and safety. The new laws will enable prompt action to ensure they are banned”.

The Coalition Government recognises the need to act quickly in order to respond to new dangerous synthetic drugs that are likely to keep being developed.

“These substances are manufactured by people who are searching for drugs that mimic the effects of existing illicit drugs, but that are not captured by current regulatory frameworks and are therefore not illegal,” said Mr Bull.

“Some new synthetic substances are similar in chemical structure or function to illegal drugs such as cannabis and cocaine and the Coalition Government believes that the sale and use of these new drugs should also be illegal.

The Commonwealth Government has had the option to outlaw individual drugs as they emerge into the market. However, this approach has proven slow in responding to the widespread use of synthetic substances such as ‘Kronic’ and ‘Spice’.

The legislation introduced into the Victorian Parliament will create a regulation-making power to allow quick action by Victoria to ban emerging dangerous drugs.

The regulation-making power will act as an interim power, effective for 12 months until the substances can be proscribed into legislation and Commonwealth regulations.

“We will continue to work with the Commonwealth and the states and territories to achieve uniform laws regarding drugs, poisons and drugs of dependence, including placing continued pressure on the Federal Government to ban synthetic substances,” Mr Bull said.

“These emerging drugs are potentially very powerful and dangerous and the Coalition Government will make sure that they are made illegal at the earliest possible opportunity.”