Call for state to regulate head shops

A RANGE of Government agencies should be able to use their powers to regulate head shops, it has been claimed.

Chair of the Dublin City Joint Policing Committee, Cllr Gerry Breen, said as some of the products were being ingested, environmental health officers should be requested to carry out inspections as they would in a food service establishment.

He said the Health & Safety Authority should also be asked to ensure the premises are inspected and products and work practices are in accordance with safety legislation.

Mr Breen’s suggestions came amid growing concerns over pre-rolled joints on sale in the shops, which sell legal highs which mimic the effects of real drugs. The joints are ready made and contain synthetic cannabis products such as Smoke XXX and Spice.

Synthetic cannabinoids are typically sprayed on herbal smoking mixtures that contain dried flowers and essential oils, which are often sold as aromatic potpourri.

The cannabinoids were classified alongside cannabis as a Class B drug in Britain last year.

One cannabis smoker said he became very ill after smoking a synthetic joint which he bought in a Cork head shop.

He described sweating and shaking and said that effect lasted for a couple of hours.

Mr Breen called for the Government and its agencies to “get the finger out” on this issue.

“Here we have products that will be ingested and smoked that don’t have a screed of quality control or assurance about them. There would be more quality assurance with a bottle of detergent.”

Meanwhile the opening of another head shop in Clontarf this week is causing concern with many of the retailers and residents.

A protest has been organised against it on Saturday at noon.