I have tried a couple of herbal (so called "incense") products which are supposed to mimic the effect of pot.., and they are very very good IMO.

In fact, I prefer them over pot if I were to choose.

But sorrowfully, that choice seems to have already been taken away before democratic judgement can be made.

W.A. health organizations are already banning these products without providing any rhyme or reason to their stance. ..except that the product does work, and it does gets you high.
Tasmania is soon to follow at the end of this month.

Are they right? If so, then why?ii

Amadd wrote on Jun 14^th, 2011 at 9:44am:

I have tried a couple of herbal (so called "incense") products which are supposed to mimic the effect of pot.., and they are very very good IMO. In fact, I prefer them over pot if I were to choose. But sorrowfully, that choice seems to have already been taken away before democratic judgement can be made. W.A. health organizations are already banning these products without providing any rhyme or reason to their stance. ..except that the product does work, and it does gets you high. Tasmania is soon to follow at the end of this month. Are they right? If so, then why?

A pitiful decision, and one driven entirely by business in cahoots with the west australian newspaper.
The west australian has been banging away on it for a few months now, the only 'harm' that has come from the substance is that it can't be detected by standard D & A testing.  Of course, the poor struggling mining companies can't afford to use non-standard testing procedures, so call in a favour from the editor, and VOILA! It is banned.

A fine example unfolding before our eyes, of how big business runs our life.

Yes, it's always going to be a problem for the controllers to dream up new and unusual ways to make us want to bow to their wishes...ie: Work harder and longer for less.

I think that these herbal products should be given a fair go and be properly tested before allowing them to be thrown into the sin bin.

As I've stated before, we live in a fast paced society where the most natural remedy (ie: a nice, long, relaxing holiday) is hardly an option to the average punter these days. If one option isn't available, then another will surely take it's place.

Upon searching for these "pseudo" drugs, I've found a few sites which sell them.
No doubt, these sites overadvertise the effects of their products in order to display a mimicing of other illegal drugs.

I tried a little "Mango Kush" about an hour ago and it's quite good IMO. It does pretty much what the name suggests.. I'm feelin' pretty kushy, but I didn't taste any mango.

(2 hrs now)
So..yeah..it's good. If I ain't gonna be afforded a nice long holiday, then I want some more of this sh!t.ii

Quote:

Users of the drug Kronic were invited to "blaze" their stash at a State Government-funded venue in Perth tonight at a concert to finish a minute before it becomes illegal. The thumb nosing at the Barnett Government, which introduced regulations on Monday to outlaw the synthetic cannabinoid, came yesterday after the makers of Kronic said on their website a new "Aussie Gold" formula had been released to be sold legally in WA.Joel Voyage, who runs a non- registered "hobby business" Voyage Promotions, promoted the Kronic Blowout gig at Northbridge venue The Bakery on social networking site Facebook. Mr Voyage said the gig was a comment on a "ridiculous situation" driven by government and media fear mongering. "This is a simple night at the pub welcoming prohibition and anyone attending is adult and entirely capable of making their own decisions," he said by email. The flyer for the show - headlined by WA reggae outfit Sunshine Brothers - advertises a performance from DJ Krolin Barnett and offers a prize for the biggest Kronic spliff rolled on the night. Artrage, the non-profit group that runs the venue, gets Department for Culture and the Arts funding and a recent refurbishment was partially funded by taxpayers. But despite the show taking a pot-shot at politicians who hold its purse strings, Artrage chief executive Marcus Canning said it would not stop the gig. "Our standard policy is that artists are entitled to express their views in whatever way they want as long as it is legal and does not put others at risk of harm," he said. "As such, we do not censor works or the marketing of works by independent promoters and artists at the venue unless they are illegal." But Bakery backers Western Power and the State Government did not share Mr Canning's view. Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said Artrage should take whatever action it could to stop a "Kronic party" at its venue. A Western Power spokesman said the company was disappointed Kronic was used to promote the gig. The Kronic Australia website says Aussie Gold is "legal in all Australian States, including WA", as of June 14.Mental Health Minister Helen Morton said if the new product had any of the seven illegal chemicals in Kronic, users would be prosecuted. A mechanism to ban all new products was being explored.

Shows the situtaion doesn't it?  Ban one, and another will take it's place.

Sad that the powers that be still want to treat us all as children - "take whatever action is necessary"  to stop people using a legal substance at a party.  

Yep. It's typical.

I have also Emailed a number of Politicians involved in the decision, and barnett, but surprise surprise - no replies bar one automated bot reply.

Back to the grog I guess, no one has ever been harmed by that...

Amadd wrote on Jun 14^th, 2011 at 9:44am:

I have tried a couple of herbal (so called "incense") products which are supposed to mimic the effect of pot.., and they are very very good IMO. In fact, I prefer them over pot if I were to choose. But sorrowfully, that choice seems to have already been taken away before democratic judgement .......

So you are not looking for a job in the WA mining boom, then? ;D ;D


Over the din of his welding shop, Fitzclarence explains how finding the right employee can be daunting. In filling a recent vacancy, he tried several hopeless local candidates before finally hiring a hard-working, reliable Bangladeshi.

"We couldn't get someone who wasn't a complete loser or a drug addict ... it was causing no end of trouble," he says.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/06/14/us-australia-labour-idUSTRE75D0PD20110614

Quote:

So you are not looking for a job in the WA mining boom, then?  ;D ;D

Not really. I net more than a lot of those workers and my workplace is only 5 minutes away.
To boot, it seems that W.A. is not the free and easy state that it once was.

Quote:

UPDATE: 1.10pm A mass party for users of the synthetic cannabis Kronic that was due to kick off tonight at a State Government-funded arts venue has been cancelled. The Bakery in Northbridge has been closed for 24 hours in the interest of public safety by the Police Liquor Enforcement Unit.Premier Colin Barnett today blasted as inappropriate the “Kronic Blowout’ gig at Northbridge’s The Bakery. He said Arts Minister John Day was writing to the operators of the publicly funded venue to detail his outrage at the move to host a party which encouraged people to smoke Kronic up until it become illegal at midnight. “I think that is highly inappropriate,” Mr Barnett said. “Artrage is an organisation that is given State Government funding. “The Minister for Arts has today written to Artrage and pointed out that it is inappropriate that a venue that they manage should be used for this. “In no way should any organisation, particularly one that receives Government funding, either condone encourage or facilitate drug use. “I would hope that they reconsider their decision to hold this event. “When you receive Government funding with it goes some mutual obligations and responsibilities. “This is irresponsible and the Government has no tolerance for this behaviour.” Mr Barnett said he had expected police at the gig. “I would be very surprised if the police are not there,” he said. The thumb nosing at the Barnett Government, which introduced regulations on Monday to outlaw the synthetic cannabinoid, came yesterday after the makers of Kronic said on their website a new "Aussie Gold" formula had been released to be sold legally in WA. Joel Voyage, who runs a non- registered "hobby business" Voyage Promotions, promoted the Kronic Blowout gig at Northbridge venue The Bakery on social networking site Facebook. Mr Voyage said the gig was a comment on a "ridiculous situation" driven by Government and media fear mongering. "This is a simple night at the pub welcoming prohibition and anyone attending is adult and entirely capable of making their own decisions," he said by email. The flyer for the show - headlined by WA reggae outfit Sunshine Brothers - advertises a performance from DJ Krolin Barnett and offers a prize for the biggest Kronic spliff rolled on the night. Despite the show taking a pot-shot at politicians who hold its purse strings, Artrage chief executive Marcus Canning said it would not stop the gig. "Our standard policy is that artists are entitled to express their views in whatever way they want as long as it is legal and does not put others at risk of harm," he said. "As such, we do not censor works or the marketing of works by independent promoters and artists at the venue unless they are illegal." But Bakery backers Western Power and the State Government did not share Mr Canning’s view. The Kronic Australia website says Aussie Gold is "legal in all Australian States, including WA", as of June 14. Mental Health Minister Helen Morton said if the new product had any of the seven illegal chemicals in Kronic, users would be prosecuted. A mechanism to ban all new products was being explored.

Fascism is alive and kicking in WA it seems.

Fascism is alive and kicking in WA it seems.

Hey Amadd - Kush sounds OK.  :P ::)
I'm a self - confessed hermit, and have not really heard about these synthetics.  I'd be more than happy to 'evaluate them'! :) ;)  (Remember trying Guarana when it first came out -  not my style - too fast for me - harmful? - NO.)

Of course , living in QLD , we hear  virtually nix about these new 'things'.  I do recall hearing - whilst reading, - on the News the reference to this but paid little attention.   Its fascinating really -  the reaction of the powers that be.
Like most things  ruling our society, FEAR , is the motivator.  So sad - and so detrimental in its stupidity.

Why officialdom, in general , has a big problem with this sort of thing is a mystery -- UNLESS you look at the OTHER major motivator in our sick society - which is MONEY!!

And yet still, the reasoning is badly askew.
Is any one sane - ??. :-?,

Stephen Fry, in reference to Ecstacy and Fortnum and Masons hampers.


Quote:

Stephen They invented it much earlier than the Second World War. It was in the First World War. It was a hydrastinine, or a hydrastinine, if you prefer, which is a drug for binding wounds, drying blood, if you like. That was its original purpose; not a truth drug at all. It was there to help wounds heal. This was the time it's . . . I think we've covered before: It was during the time of what they called The Great Binge, the period from the, sort of, 1880s up until the First World War, when everyone was on drugs, seemingly all the time. And you could go to Fortnum and Mason's at the beginning of the First World War, and you could order a hamper for your boys at the front, which included heroine, cocaine, syringes . . . It was all legal, and it was all--

http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?action=post;num=1308008665;title=PostReply

Quote:

Enlarge photo A second event held to use up supplies of the synthetic cannabis Kronic before it becomes illegal today was shut down last night - five minutes after it began. The Say No to Legal and Illegal Drugs concert at the Civic Hotel in Inglewood was organised yesterday afternoon, just hours after police used powers under the Liquor Control Act to shut down the Kronic Blowout event planned for the Northbridge nightclub, The Bakery, last night.It was to have been headlined by WA reggae outfit Sunshine Brothers and offered a prize for the biggest Kronic "spliff" rolled on the night. The police intervention came after Premier Colin Barnett had earlier blasted the decision by arts group Artrage to host The Bakery event. "I think that is highly inappropriate," he said. "In no way should any organisation, particularly one that receives Government funding, either condone, encourage or facilitate drug use. "I would hope that they reconsider their decision to hold this event." The replacement event in Inglewood, which promised that drug taking of any kind would not be tolerated, began at 8pm but was shut down at 8.05pm. Event organiser Joel Voyage said he was told by the manager of the hotel that the event had to be shut down because of threats of a $60,000 fine by liquor licensing officers. "They were told the fine was for encouraging excessive smoking," Mr Voyage said.He said the whole experience had been really funny. "What started as a friendly joke turned into an issue of democratic rights and freedom of speech," he said. "We think the WA Government should look up democracy in the dictionary." Mr Voyage said the event would not be moved again and he was satisfied with the result. Police issued a statement yesterday saying they had closed The Bakery event because they believed it constituted a threat to public safety but did not comment last night on why the Inglewood event was shut down. Claire Farely, from South Fremantle, was disappointed when she arrived at the Civic Hotel to hear the event had been shut down. She said it was "really scary" that the Government and police could do this within such a short time.

Ho hum.  Just another day in a police state.

Police State.? WA???

Surely not -  but then again, being in a national police COUNTRY - anything is apparently possible, for the PTB. ...
irregardless of Laws-  National,International,Universal.!!!

We're heading for a BIG comedown!! 8-)

"irregardless"

One of my all-time favourites, regardless - irrespective even!?

now you got me going

how about inflammable   - which I guess my posts are sometimes  :)

or flammable  -  highly so !! ;)

Quote:

Hey Amadd - Kush sounds OK.   :P ::) I'm a self - confessed hermit, and have not really heard about these synthetics.  I'd be more than happy to 'evaluate them'!  ;)  (Remember trying Guarana when it first came out -  not my style - too fast for me - harmful? - NO.)

To be honest, I hadn't heard much about them either. I'd heard of "Kronic", but I thought that it was just a different strain of hooch.

From my limited experience with these products, I'd say that there is definitely a very relaxing effect there, ...a bit milder than hooch, and without some of the other commonly associated side-effects sofar as I can tell.

As of yet, I wouldn't be about to be shouting from the rooftops that these products are relatively harmless, but I couldn't see myself being incapacitated in any major way from the small doses that I've tried thus far.

No doubt I've already put it to the "practical test" further than those with the ability and the mindset to blindly ban them by personal choice alone.

It's quite probable that there is an addition of manufactured chemicals added to these products, however, as far as I know it's just a mix of different herbs and spices...like the Colonel's secret recipe  ;)

If you'd like to try a few of these whilst you can without repercussions Jalane, then I'm all ears to hear what you think of them.

I can see a good business coming on of providing to the W.A. miners from a legal position.  ;Di

Yeah  --  ;)

I'll ask my local tobacconist next time I'm down that way!    They sell Bongs and accoutrements, so ought to know? :)

Funny that -- it was MADE ILLEGAL to sell Bongs etc - I think -  .......... and they became unseen, .........but not for long.
:D ;D :-? 8-)
Its a crazy world. :D

Ok, What I'd like to know now is this:

With this new legislation, as ignorant as it is, if say someone had, WHILE all this hullabaloo was pending and indeed long before it was mentioned (a week prior), purchased a quantity of legal products that were not plant based but instead the portion of blended material that made it potent, and were to be caught with it being delivered in WA, would said person risk prosecution.

It was legal, it had no problem entering this state let alone the country - PRIOR to all this.

Should this person be wary? Is there retrospective implication?

Bob bought about 8 grams of a chemical. It was legal. This legislation makes bob a criminal should he procure this after it becomes illegal. He has not.

Is bob going to be going to gaol for 20 years, thanks to colin and made up legislation? Or be hounded by the legal system to make a point?

Bob doesnt do anything. He's a fuggen hippy.

But bob will be very angry should customs knock on his door.

Interesting question - and one with broader application.

I don't believe the legislation can act retrospectively.  IF Bob paid for the 'product' at point of sale, not receipt, and there is record of said completed contractual transaction, Bob should not be prosecuted, provided he can substantiate same. 'Should not'-  means squat tho really.

There's the rub.  And  - he is likely ( definitely) to have the product confiscated.!!
Thats my opinion. :)

,

how about puppets that mimic people?

A Few Folk com to mind? [img][email][ftp][/ftp][/email][/img]

I really want to post some ?/ stuff on this board, and FD sauid do this and that - I am not getting anywhere. Could someone - just assume that I have never don anything like such a transfer before?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o :-[

oooooppppppppppps aginn

wrong button.........  but yeah ??

anyone?   saved vids etc from e-m to :C - OK?   Then what???

Tried image button above  ( to be really specific - thats the friggin' little piccie inside the BOX   LEFT  of the  E-MAIL BOX).
I had a reply open   -  you can see what happened.
What do I do to get something I received either in vid or stills, onto a topic on this forum??????

Make no assumptions!!!!!!!!!!.
Good night.!!! ::)

OK OK failed again - seems I have to convert the frickin' WMV to a fireakin'!!!!JPEG or such.

OK calm down -  now I really know why I dislike this poo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[smiley=evil.gif]

From what I can see, the purported problems with these "marijuana mimicing" products, are the very same problems (with marijuana) that have not been proven to be a problem in any greater respect than most of the "accepted" drugs in circulation today.

I think that we're trapped into some sort of inane logic which dictates that if it causes pain, then it must be "good" in the long run, and if it feels good, then it must have some drawback which must be suppressed and controlled ....duty now for the future of all idiots!

We're = US

Us = DEMOCRACY.

Did we forget that our vote means everything?.. I think we have forgotten.

You want to be very careful in your acceptance of what a "classified drug" is, because if you do not make a choice, then the choice will be made for you.i

I say - Welll said Amadd :)

Thx Jalane.

So I've been doing a little research into this synthetic form of marijuana (I don't mind assuming myself as human guinea pig where I choose) and have found that the usual active chemical goes by the name of: "JB -018".
They also use others from the "JB" chemical range, which have been purposely developed (for research) to have a similar molecular structure as THC .... the active ingredient in marijuana of course.

In it's raw form, this chemical doesn't look like marijuana, so it's sprayed onto various herbs or plants and sold as a "herbal marijuana".

I'm not sure how the chemical got out of the research labs and into the mainstream, but it must be fairly simple to manufacture for an astute chemist.

IMO, this chemical has now come into prominance mainly because of our acceptance of random drug testing in the workplace and in public areas. This chemical is undetectable as a drug using current tests, so it's not surprising that it has become very popular these days.

I can see that my window of opportunity to test out these chemicals is closing rather sharply in this country.
I'd like to know if there are any ill effects before I settle on my current judgement of it being a very very nice product indeed.

It seems that these "JB" chemicals will be banned Australia-wide before the wider population gets a fighting chance to form judgement via the common vehicle of democratic opinion.

From the products I've tried thus far, I find it surprising as to how different the effects are considering the (so far) limited range of chemicals.
I like them all actually. They are all much better than dope IMO.
No munchies, no paranoia..a shorter, but a better high.

It's very diffferent to the pot that I've tried in the past. It's more like a fanciful strain of pot that I've been looking for and could not find. I've no doubt that this is an intention in the development of these chemicals.

So the governments are saying "NO" under the pretext of these chemicals doing whatever. They do whatever our governments imagine that they will do, and our governments pass the news onto us.


Quote:

In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught - Baba Dioum

It's about time that we treated our governments as idiots. And it's about time that they were receptive to such an opinion.

Amadd wrote on Jun 14^th, 2011 at 9:44am:

I have tried a couple of herbal (so called "incense") products which are supposed to mimic the effect of pot.., and they are very very good IMO. In fact, I prefer them over pot if I were to choose. But sorrowfully, that choice seems to have already been taken away before democratic judgement can be made. W.A. health organizations are already banning these products without providing any rhyme or reason to their stance. ..except that the product does work, and it does gets you high. Tasmania is soon to follow at the end of this month. Are they right? If so, then why?

I don't know if that is a word really. Illegalisatiuon. But I know what you mean. Of course  they are not RIGHT. They keep alcohol and tobacco legal and ban this stuff. It's wowsers who hate to see others enjoying themselves.

They make up stories about pot leading to harder drugs, depression and so on. That part is true for young people but once your brain has fully developed it has no such effect.

I haven't tried this stuff, been taking a break for a few years which I do always. I saw the announcer on TV freaking out about it because this stuff is supposedly as strong as hash.

Big deal, nothing wrong with hash either and it is not scary at all.

It's ignorance of course. Fear of the unknown. All drugs should be legal and controlled by chemists or doctors. Much safer, cheaper, no crime and taxes would be applicable. But they should ban booze as it's the big killer of all drugs.

It is a word, but I usually try to slip in a "z" (pronounced "zed") instead of an "s" where I can.

To my knowledge, there is no legislation against these chemicals in Victoria as of yet.
Of course there is pressure for all states to follow the lead of the big mining states, because, well, they own the money and they don't like the ease in which these products can cross thier borders if all states do not follow suit.
To that I say: "Then you must be considering yourselves as something other than a state within the nation of Australia." How dare they!

So far, I see the Victorian liberal "Baillieu" government as having a common sense approach in stating that they want to see where the problem lies before attempting to pass new legislation.

Existing rhetoric contends that these chemicals have destroyed entire communities. They cause paranoia, mental problems, etc etc.

I think that we should not lower ourselves into strawman arguments when the wider public who have experienced these chemicals first hand would almost unanimously disagree with such devisive rhetoric.

There is simply no reliable proof out there that these chemicals cause a danger in the workplace or in the wider public that they may cause one to fall outside of the "accepted" range of competency standards.
The same may be said of the chemical (THC) that these chemicals are designed to mimic.
I'm probably helping to build the strawman argument by nominanting these products as "chemicals", because there is a certain opinion attached to that word. But just about any substance in existence holds some sort of innate chemical reaction.

"The problem", IMO, is that it's all too hard for governments to control.

It's all too hard for them to reliably ascertain which chemical might cause more danger than another. It's much simpler to ban all those which are too hard to control, and to keep the natives happy by allowing some of those which may be far more harmful, but they are easier to control.

I'd hope that the majority of people will require some sort of concrete proof of the disavantages to society before "legally" stopping people from getting high at their leisure and their own personal adult choice.

Maybe it's just not fair that other people should be allowed some "Happy times"?

I see that the Ballieu government is now employing the pretentious phrase of "Uniform drug laws"...haha.
Now that's an easy out if ever I saw one.
I shoulda known that "weakness" was the primal force behind their dilly- dallying on this issue.

No, they don't care a continental about real studies concerning the real impact upon cognetive function.
In their magnificent and infinite wisdom, they deduce that if it gets one "high", then cognetive function must be reduced. Even more than the unnatural effects of working too hard and long throughout ridiculous shifts......so they say  ::)

I would be guilty of building a "strawman" to assume that this is the argument that they are using as a pretext to outlaw a product that a lot of people like and find useful.
But alas, I haven't heard any rational argument whatsoever as to why all state governments would simultaneously come to the conclusion that there is a problem in the community soley due to these products.
I know that they are telling some very large porkies there.

The truth, is that there have been no real studies done into the impact or "de-impact" upon the wider community.
Personally, I find the product very useful to curb my alcohol addiction which has been brought about by peer pressure, advertising, and immoral tax-grabbing governments that sell out our health and free choice for money. Money for themselves, not the wider community.

I want every opportunity that I can get to survive and to live a free and healthy life which reflects my own personal choices.
"Productive" - I don't give a stuff about. That's somebody else's want for me. If I end up being "productive", then all well and good.

Let's be serious. Outrageous fines and threats to everything that we have worked for will make even the most ardent maverick fall into line with even the most "Reichstag-like" assaults upon the democratic process.
We cower to these unrealistic threats from our government(s) every day of the week- even though we know in our heart of hearts that we are doing nothing wrong to deserve to be threatened in such a dictatorial manner.

If I were to be slapped with a $25,000 fine today for being in possesion of that which was legal yesterday, then doesn't that seem a little odd?
Wouldn't that seem to be a "cruel and unusual punishment", as outlined against in our version of a constitution?

Why the sudden shift? Was there some sort of tsunami of communal problems which suddenly eventuated due to this product?
I haven't seen it. And I'll lay odds that you haven't (and would never) seen it either.

The Baillieu government quoted that they would need to define the problem before attempting to pass legislation.
They now seem to have "defined" the problem. Any chance that we might be let in on this little secret?

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/synthetic-pot-gets-chop-20110615-1g3yf.html

The above editorial claims that the product is openly available to children as young as ten. That is a lie. The vast majority of sellers assume personal responsibility to ensure that buyers are over the age of 18.
There's other lies in tht article also. The synthetic product does not contain THC, the so-called active ingredient.
Ohhh, it's such a big problem to not be dectable to substances which are assumed to sacrifice cognetive function ....Why didn't God bless those idiots with a pair of eyes?


But it's all fine and dandy for industries to sell "tartrazine" (amongst so many other chemicals) to kids as young as four. That's the additive chemical that kids go crazy about in red cordial...they love it.
You love it too  ;D

I can display facts and tell our government some very real dangers of "tartrazine". Can they tell me the dangers of what they are very heavily banning now?
I could display a veritable library on the harmfulness of just one single chemical that has been fed to us and our kids (maybe even as young as two). There are many many problems with widely used "accepted" chemicals that have been backed by some real studies.
Tartrazine: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Tartrazine_and_ADHD/

As a plebeian voter, I'm not important enough to be told. And neither are you.i

But I'll enjoy my "happy times", whilst they last. And before I am once again condemned to the capitalist drugs which have always seemed to hinder me.
If you are a white male caucasian, you'd be safer to accept that you are a neo-slave to oblivion.

... wrote on Jun 14^th, 2011 at 10:40am:

[quote author=ID999 link=1308008665/0#0 date=1308008664] The west australian has been banging away on it for a few months now, the only 'harm' that has come from the substance is that it can't be detected by standard D & A testing.

Implying that these synthetic cannabis strains are harmless is not entirely true. There have been rather disturbing anecdotal reports regarding the consumption of K2 and JWH-018. I have heard of many people complaining of having bad, persistent headache for weeks/days after use and another report of somebody slipping into a coma after smoking the K2 blend.

Personally, I'd rather smoke some normal weed instead of these synthetic blends. They have not been around long enough to study any long-term effects. Until we have a greater knowledge about these blends and their possible long-term effects I will be steering clear of them.

O))) wrote on Jul 28^th, 2011 at 9:39am:

... wrote on Jun 14th, 2011 at 10:40am: [quote author=ID999 link=1308008665/0#0 date=1308008664] The west australian has been banging away on it for a few months now, the only 'harm' that has come from the substance is that it can't be detected by standard D & A testing. Implying that these synthetic cannabis strains are harmless is not entirely true. There have been rather disturbing anecdotal reports regarding the consumption of K2 and JWH-018. I have heard of many people complaining of having bad, persistent headache for weeks/days after use and another report of somebody slipping into a coma after smoking the K2 blend. Personally, I'd rather smoke some normal weed instead of these synthetic blends. They have not been around long enough to study any long-term effects. Until we have a greater knowledge about these blends and their possible long-term effects I will be steering clear of them.

I too didn't try them - why bother when you've got a free supply of the real deal?
But I guess my attitude was swayed by seeing it all unfold - watching how the story progressed left me with little doubt that this ban was orchestrated on economic grounds, not on public health grounds.  I concede that it's highly likely that at least 1 of the blends would have some side effects - but not necessarily the belnds that were banned.

This Topic was moved here from Drug Policy by freediver.