Synthetic pot banned
It will be illegal to possess so-called synthetic cannabis smoking products, sold under names like Kronic, Voodoo and Kaos, from July 8.
Sale of the products, which contain synthetic chemicals similar in composition to Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, was banned on July 1.
However, critics say the NSW Government has no plan about what businesses should do with unsold stock after the ban went into effect. The products were sold mainly by herbal high stores and adult shops.
EROS Association CEO Fiona Patten encouraged the Government to set up a buy-back scheme.
“To stop this product being passed on to the black market and to organised crime groups, the Government should buy back these products like [former prime minister] John Howard did with the gun buy-back”, Patten said.
“You can’t legally burn this material and the police do not want it dumped on their doorstep either.”
Patten said businesses which had been selling the products in good faith deserved to be compensated.
“These businesses have paid GST on all these products and the NSW Government has to pay this back. The legal case for compensation will be pursued vigorously,” Patten said.
