The Health Service Executive (HSE) & Gardaí recently issued a warning about “Cannabis jellies” that are contaminated with synthetic cannabinoids.

The warning comes following the discovery of cannabis jellies during a drug raid in Tipperary, after a number of people who ate them were hospitalised. The cannabis jellies were sent for testing with the results indicating the presence of synthetic cannabinoids and not THC as indicated on the packaging of the products. The Gardaí also issued a similar warning through their social media sharing another image of cannabis jelly packaging which were found to contain synthetic cannabinoids.

These warning however are coming rather late considering synthetic cannabinoids have been found in cannabis that was tested by the state (Forensic Science Ireland) as far back as July 2020 as can be seen in the image below.

The 2020 report which was published in July 2021 included that these synthetic cannabinoids were linked to deaths in the UK and that in July 2020 the Gardaí seized 80grams of what they believed to be Cannabis, but turned out to be green plant material impregnated with “MDMB 4-en PINCA”, a synthetic cannabinoid.

The following year in the 2021 FSI report, again Synthetic Cannabinoids were a feature. This time case study 5 of the report indicated that 5 different synthetic Cannabinoids were found in at least 70 different samples tested. The synthetic cannabinoids were found in various forms listed below along with the synthetic cannabinoids found:

• MDMB-4en-PINACA (29 cases), this substance has been found in plant material, liquid and vape products.

• ADB-BUTINACA (10 cases), this substance has been found in sweets, plant material and liquids.

• 5F-EDMB-PICA (15 cases), this substance has been found in plant material and some sweets.

• 5F-MDMB-BUTINACA (16 cases), this substance has mainly been found in plant material and in some liquids

• CUMYL-5F-P7AICA (unknown)

So given that authorities have known for quite some time of the added dangers posed to Cannabis consumers why has this warning not come sooner? Why are we not seeing politicians like Emer Higgins speak out against cannabis prohibition and the dangers to the kids in our society who she says are increasingly accessing and consuming these products.

Back in 2020 TD Emer Higgins told the Irish government she is concerned for kids who are eating cannabis jellies. She stated that “cannabis use among teenagers has almost doubled in the past few years. Almost one in five Irish 16 year olds are now using cannabis.” If Emer is genuine about her concern for the kids of those parents writing to her in her constituency then I hope to soon see Emer again before the Dáil, asking the minister with responsibility for our National Drug Strategy, TD Hildegard Naughton, to support a decriminalisation and regulation of Cannabis to protect the youth of this country.

Emer Higgins also mentions in her speech that “nobody died from overdosing on the cannabis”, which is something she cant say about Synthetic Cannabinoids. People might remember not too long ago in the UK the case of the Female Law Student Damilola Olakanmi (23) who died after eating jellies contaminated with these synthetic cannabinoids. This is just 1 of many deaths that have occurred as a result of CANNABIS PROHIBITION! Its Cannabis Prohibition that allows for these adulterated products fall into the hands of unsuspecting consumers. Its Cannabis Prohibition that sees kids as young as 8 years of age involved in the illicit drug trade. Thankfully we’ve not had any known fatal overdoses from synthetic cannabinoids in Ireland YET!, but the longer we continue with cannabis prohibition the higher the risk gets of someone’s child needlessly dying. I know as the father of 3 and soon to be 4 that I don’t want my kids growing up in a world where this risk continues to exist. Consumption of cannabis is something that a lot of teenagers will be curious of (1 in 5 16 year olds according to Emer) and we need to protect those curious teens & adults alike from the dangers of a contaminated drug supply.