18 Apr 2011

Banning of fake drugs urged

6:02 am on 18 April 2011

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says it would be a better approach to make drugs like synthetic cannabis illegal in the future.

The availability of New Zealand-made synthetic cannabis cigarettes in Australia, such as Spice, Kronic and Dream, has prompted a warning from the mining industry there.

It's telling employees who use these legal products to think about the safety of their colleagues.

Mr Dunne says he's not surprised the Australian mining industry has taken that view.

He says he is awaiting a report from the Law Commission about the Misuse of Drugs Act and hopes it will recommend ways the problems with synthetic drugs can be resolved in the longer term.

The Government is waiting for legislation to be passed to forbid the sale of a cannabis substitute to those under 18.