Herbal Drugs of Abuse: An Emerging Problem in Jersey and Guernsey

The Guernsey press has recently reported on a very alarming story about Spice, which is an unrestricted substance available in Jersey and Guernsey. One site online notes that:

Many people are looking for mind-altering experiences without the dangerous consequences of hard-core, illegal drugs. Also, any illegal substance can get you into serious trouble. You risk losing your job, dealing with heavy penalties and carrying a negative stigma. It's no wonder that people are more and more interested in experimenting with legal highs. If you are interested in a drug harm minimisation solution or a more natural alternative to illegal substances, a good place to start looking is the internet. There is a wide variety of online stores that carry legal high products. It's a good idea to try a small amount first to try out the effect. An herbal smoking blend like smoke spice is a good starter. Spice legal high is one of many smoking blends that can give you a completely natural, legal high effect.

http://www.christiannotepad.com/Article/Advantages-of-a-Legal-High/21887

On the other hand, MD Consult has an article

Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America - Volume 25, Issue 2 (May 2007)  -
 
Herbal Drugs of Abuse: An Emerging Problem

This notes that some herbal products - like Spice Gold - are emerging as popular drugs for recreational abuse. It points out that plant and herbal supplements used recreationally can have a wide spectrum of clinical effects ranging from euphoric and stimulant effects to hallucinogenic experiences. The warning the authors give is that despite the potential for abuse, addiction, and serious adverse effects, there may be a false perception that these products are safe because they involve natural and herbal ingredients.

And here is the alarming story, which raises the question: should these products be restricted?

http://www.thisisguernsey.com/2008/05/20/shot-3-while-stoned/

Shot 3 while stoned
By Joel de Woolfson

Richard Le Conte had reportedly smoked a large quantity of Spice before shooting three people with a BB gun.

A YOUNG man had smoked large amounts of the legal high Spice when he shot three people with a BB gun.

Richard Le Conte, 17, was sentenced to 18 months' youth detention by the Royal Court for that as well as burgling a house, stealing from his friend's grandmother and deceiving a shop owner, all of which he admitted.

His advocate, Chris Green, said his use of the herbal substance had played a big part in his client's actions. Judge Russell Finch said it had clearly contributed.

Le Conte's shooting spree took place on 8 September from the back seat of a friend's car. His first victim was a woman walking in Route de Cobo, Castel. She was hit in the right arm.

At about 3.20pm a man was on a stepladder outside his St Sampson's home when Le Conte fired pellets at him, striking him just below his left armpit. The third attack occurred in the King's Mills area when a man on holiday was struck in the back as he walked on a footpath.

Le Conte told police that it had begun as a prank and was not intended to be a vicious attack. But Mr Finch said: 'Innocent members of the public are entitled to go about their business without the threat of being shot at.'