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Home / New Zealand

Weed killer and fly spray in home-made synthetic cannabis

Frances Cook
By Frances Cook
BusinessDesk Investments Editor·NZ Herald·
25 Jul, 2017 04:15 AM3 mins to read

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Synthetic Cannabis users reach out for help from Drug and Alcohol Helpline.

The life-threatening reactions to synthetic cannabis are being blamed on some of the drugs being home-made, with toxic chemicals including weed killer and fly spray used in the recipe.

Eight people have died in the past month from using the drug, following a surge in its use.

Avondale Police area prevention manager Acting Inspector Marcia Murray said many users didn't realise the toxic chemical cocktail they were smoking.

She said there had been a "concerning" rise in synthetic cannabis use.

"All of these appear to be manufactured privately by people.

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"That's the troubling thing, it is an illegal drug, and it is extremely dangerous, because we just don't know what's going into this product."

Murray said there was Police intelligence and anecdotal reports of fly spray and weed killer in the drugs.

Eastern District Police has also released a statement that local sellers claim to include chemicals such as kitchen spray cleaner, rat poison, and horse tranquiliser.

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"Police have been told anecdotally that some strands of synthetic cannabis could contain weed killer or fly spray, however, we have no evidence whatsoever of this being the truth," Murray said.

"The chemicals that are being used are chemicals that are readily accessible to the public."

Murray said the Avondale police had some good results with synthetic cannabis busts in April and June, leading to 12 arrests.

But Murray said police needed the community's help to crack down further.

"The most concerning thing is I wonder whether people realise what they're putting into their bodies, and the fact that it is extremely dangerous.

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"They're putting their lives at risk.

"We need to know who is actually dealing these, so we can shut them down. And the community needs to know how dangerous they are, and not to purchase or use them.

"People need to tell us, even anonymously, who is supplying these drugs so we can get them out of our communities and keep them safe."

Wellington emergency medicine specialist Dr Paul Quigley said Hutt Valley Hospital was regularly having to treat users of synthetic cannabis.

He said a single smoke of synthetic was equivalent to 15 normal joints.

"This is why the effect is so very different and so very dangerous.

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"Synthetic cannabis is one of the more dangerous products around and is responsible for some immediate health harms."

He said the drugs could cause epileptic seizures, heart palpitations, kidney problems, significant anxiety, insomnia, and worsen mental health conditions until they reached the level of psychosis.

"Because synthetic cannabis is so much more potent than natural cannabis we were also seeing the effects related to substance abuse and addiction developing rapidly," Quigley said.

"Users would need to smoke regularly every 3-4 hours, even waking during the night to smoke."

Middlemore emergency medicine consultant and toxicology expert Dr Chip Gresham said they were seeing dangerous side effects, including life-threatening seizures.

"Occasionally we get new brands or batches that come through, and whatever new batch or brand that's out there is putting people's lives at risk by causing seizures and other serious medical problems.

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"The bottom line is this. People are getting very sick from whatever new synthetic cannabis is out there.

"It is critical that people understand that even if they have used it many times in the past, this new brand or new batch can be life-threatening."

Gresham said if someone smoked synthetics and began to feel strange or unwell, they needed to seek medical help urgently.

Need help?

Alcohol and Drug Helpline 0800 787 797

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