Cork councillor welcomes HHC ban as drug had become ‘scourge’ on young lives

A West Cork councillor who highlighted the case of a 12-year-old boy who was left not knowing where he was and had to be treated in the CUH after taking the psychoactive drug HHC, has welcomed the announcement of a ban on the man-made cannabinoid substance by Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill yesterday.

Social Democrat councillor for Skibbereen/West Cork Isobel Towse said she was glad that the Minister had banned HHC and brought Ireland in line with other European countries as it had become “a scourge on the lives” of many young people.

“Parents in west Cork, whose children had suffered psychosis after vaping HHC, came to me looking to highlight the issue and get it banned,” she said. “They suffered awful nights with doctors wondering what was happening to their children, such were the effects of the drug.

“It wasn't long in Ireland before it was the second most common drug used by young people who were presenting with psychosis.” 

A Cork vapes retailer said that he had yet to be officially informed of the ban on HHC.

 “We’ve had no notification yet. We’re just waiting for clarification on it,” said Gordon Treacy, the proprietor of a number of vape shops operating in Cork and Kerry.

He told The Echo the product would be removed from the shelves as soon as they received instructions to do so from the HSE.

He said that the manufacturers would bring out an acceptable form of the substance.

“They will always find a replacement,” he said.

 “At the moment there’s nothing in the pipeline.”

In the Minister’s statement, Ms Carroll MacNeill said that hexahydrocannabinol, which is the official name for HHC, described as a semi-synthetic cannabinoid, was now categorised as a Schedule 1 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and, consequently, the import, export, production, possession, sale, and supply of products containing HHC was now illegal.

"Under the successor national drugs strategy, I’m committed to reviewing legal avenues to respond faster and more effectively to emerging threats from the volatile drugs market. 

"In line with our health-led approach to drug use, our priority is to advance measures that enable us to protect and support the health of our population."

Colm Kelleher, the Fianna Fáil councillor in Cork City South West, has also welcomed the decision to ban HHC as Irish hospitals had highlighted a number of cases of psychotic episodes caused by the substance. 

“I’m absolutely delighted that this drug has been banned, which is something I had called for last year,” he said.