'Legal high' alert

IT CAN be bought in eighths, smoked in spliffs and produces the same effects as cannabis... and is completely legal. Spice and other 'legal highs' are products that can be bought over the counter and on the Internet. But drug support workers are urging users to treat them with caution.

'It seems to be very popular in Guernsey at the moment,' said Mark Sullivan, who works for the charity NCH.

'We're concerned because we're seeing young people using it and it seems to be as potent as cannabis. But there is no way of telling what long-term effects it will have.

'I suppose we feel the term ?legal? is misleading people into thinking these products are completely safe. The truth is, these products are totally untested as far as we know.'

Spice is one of a range of products being used as a substitute for cannabis. It is part of a global multi-million-pound industry that also produces legal herbal pills, designed to simulate the effect of amphetamines, and herbal hallucinogens. Its ingredients are a combination of plants and extracts, including vanilla, marshmallow, rose and baybean, which is known to have psychoactive qualities.

'Anything that impairs judgement can't be doing any good,' said Mr Sullivan.

Drug Concern manager Tracey Rear agreed that any substance that altered the mindset should be treated with caution. She had seen people who were under the influence of such substances, but it was difficult to do anything about it because of its legal status. She said that although it could offer drug users a legal alternative, it could also encourage people to experiment with illegal substances.

'I wonder if young people who start smoking it might move on to smoking cannabis, which is certainly not something we'd want to encourage.'

Emma Ogier is the manager of Bits and Pieces, a local store which stocks Spice and other similar products.

'It's herbal, and there are a lot worse things people could be doing, or buying out there. We pay our taxes and it's better than that money going to drug dealers.'

The substance is sold strictly to over-18s only and Miss Ogier said it should be treated no differently to alcohol.

'It's the same as drink: you've got to be careful and responsible with how you use it.'