Ireland's cannabis market the 'Wild West', with 'dizzying array' of synthetic drugs for sale

Forensic Science Ireland said a review of 114 jelly, sweet, and chocolate products showed just 64% contained the assumed cannabis THC chemical — with the remaining 36% including a range of synthetic cannabinoids.

There is a “Wild West” marketplace for cannabis in Ireland with a “dizzying array” of synthetic versions of the drug in circulation, the State’s forensic science agency has warned.

This is posing a “significant risk” to unsuspecting users, including young teenagers, Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) has said.

In its latest annual report, the agency gave an overview of its work, revealing its DNA database assisted a total of 730 investigations last year, including burglaries, robberies, assaults, and sexual assaults.

The report reveals new technology will assist gardaí investigating arson attacks at asylum-linked properties as well as the complex task of identifying remains at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home.

Among the cases the FSI helped solve was the “oldest murder prosecution” in Irish history, with the conviction in 2023 of Noel Long for killing Nora Sheehan in Cork in 1981.

The annual report also reveals:

• A four-fold rise in drug importation cases since 2020;
• Significant rise in the “complexity and urgency” of cases — including a rapid-reaction response to the mass drug overdoses in Dublin and Cork late last year;
• A 68% rise in body identification cases over the last two years;
• A 28% rise in DNA samples of crime suspects and convicted criminals in the same period;
• A 100% jump in cases involving explosives and a 56% rise in firearms cases; 
• A 5% increase in the total number of submissions — from 24,145 in 2022 to 25,361 in 2023. 

The report comes at a time when the agency is completing a move from old premises at Garda HQ in Dublin to a modern, high-tech facility in Backweston, Co Kildare.

“The demand for FSI services continues to increase,” FSI director-general Chris Enright said. 

“Significantly, the complexity and urgency of submissions has also increased – particularly investigations relating to suspicious deaths, body identifications, drug submissions associated with public health concerns, and Section 15A drugs cases (sale and supply of drugs of high market value).” 

The report said the number of “high-value” drug importation cases had increased from 45 in 2020 to 180 in 2023 — a four-fold rise.

It likened the cannabis market to the “Wild West” and said it accounted for 42% of all cases analysed.

“The traditional cannabis market is no longer a homogenous arena and is now a dynamically evolving space with ongoing rapid emergence of a dizzying array of synthetic cannabinoid products — it is truly the Wild West of the drug marketplace,” the report said.

It said a review of 114 jelly, sweet, and chocolate products showed just 64% contained the assumed cannabis THC chemical — with the remaining 36% including a range of synthetic cannabinoids.

“Unfortunately, adverse side-effects from the ingestion of attractively packaged and often mislabelled ‘cannabis-infused’ and ‘THC’ type products are an increasingly common occurrence,” the agency said.

It said in November 2023, four teenagers from a school in Cork became ill and were hospitalised after vaping — and that analysis of these vapes by FSI identified the presence of HHC, a semi-synthetic cannabinoid.

The report said these products “remain a significant risk to the public”.

It said there were now 74,628 profiles on the DNA database, compared to 67,301 in 2022 and 58,703 in 2021.

This includes 55,427 on the DNA Reference Index — suspects and convicted offenders — as well as 12,121 on the Crime Stain Index — unknown samples from crime scenes.

It said 664 people were linked, through DNA profiles, to crimes in 2023, including 194 burglary cases, 67 car thefts, 63 robberies/thefts, 24 assaults, and 14 sexual assaults.

The report said recruitment of staff remained a “significant challenge”, but 33 people were recruited during 2023, while 28 left.

It said the goal was to reach at least 230 staff by the end of 2024, with staff levels around the 200 mark at the close of 2023.