Temporary ban of synthetic drugs begins in NSW following death of Henry Kwan
The New South Wales Government is banning the sale of 18 synthetic drugs for 90 days following the death of a Sydney teenager.
Synthetic drugs have come under scrutiny after 17-year-old student Henry Kwan jumped off a balcony while allegedly under the influence of a drug that mimics LSD.
The ban applies to a range of drugs that mimic the effects of illegal drugs like cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine.
The NSW Minister for Fair Trading Anthony Roberts wants the ban to be made permanent and nationwide.
"Federal Government support in this case is crucial," he said.
Mr Roberts says the next step is to approach the Federal Health Minister and Assistant Treasurer.
"We can take these products off the shelves for 90 days but I am hoping that the Federal Government will come in behind us and assist us," he said.
"This has to be a whole of government and jurisdictional approach to this scourge."
Retailers have until Tuesday to clear their shelves of synthetic drugs or face fines of up to $1.1 million.
"It is not acceptable for you to continue selling these products that cause harm," said Mr Roberts.
Mr Roberts says a record number of officers will be deployed on Tuesday to enforce the interim ban.
"We will see the largest taskforce in the Commonwealth's history in this area actually going out into the field," he said.
"There will be over a 150 officers deployed this week, to go out to retailers to remove these products, to fine retailers, to search and seize and to apply the full force of the law."
Mixed response to short-term ban
The Australian Drug Foundation said an interim ban is a positive move but it is not a solution.
CEO John Rogerson said the Federal Government should treat synthetic drugs like other products that require approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
"I don't think we going to be able to ban our way out of this problem," he said.
"They need to be taken off the market immediately and then they need to come back on the market once the producers and the resellers can show these products are safe.
"We've got to stop mucking around with these drugs now."
Henry Kwan's father Stephen says he supports the ban and hopes it will prevent similar tragedies in the future.
"I think it will help a lot of others because it's a tragedy for us, but we don't want this tragedy to happen to other families."
But some retail groups do not believe the ban will work.
Robbie Swan from the adult and entertainment group Eros Association says synthetic drugs should be regulated instead.
"They can look at the packet and say it was manufactured here, it was manufacture on this date, it's got this in it," he said.
