Former Cork Mayor says banning of drug synthetic HHC was ‘very welcome’

A former lord mayor of Cork has said he is “absolutely delighted” that the Government has moved to ban a semi-synthetic legal drug that has been cited as a cause of psychosis.

Synthetic cannabinoid HHC or Hexahydrocannabinol has been classified as an illegal drug by the Government.

The move makes illegal the import, export, production, possession, sale and supply of products containing the man-made substance.

HHC, as well as 13 other substances, is now categorised as a Schedule 1 controlled drug Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.

Former lord mayor of Cork Colm Kelleher, who is a Fianna Fáil city councillor based in Ballincollig, had last year written to the then minister for health Stephen Donnelly calling for HHC to be banned.

Mr Kelleher said the decision by the current minister for health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, was very welcome news.

“There have been major concerns expressed about HHC within the scientific communities in the US and in Europe, and here at home, because there is a massive risk of psychosis resulting from taking this drug, and indeed Irish hospitals have highlighted a number of cases of psychotic episodes caused by vaping HHC,” 

Mr Kelleher said.

“The semi-synthetic drug causes a strong intoxication, stronger then normal cannabis consumption, and there have been several reports of people feeling generally unwell, confusion, unconsciousness, depression, outright psychosis, and dependency can develop very quickly, with serious withdrawal symptoms.

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

In a statement, the Department of Health said: “The semi-synthetic cannabinoid has similar effects to cannabis and has been commonly sold as e-cigarettes or vape pens, in herbal mixtures, oils, edible jellies and cakes and as tinctures.

“Since it was first detected in Ireland in 2022, it has been linked with episodes of psychosis and hospitalisation.

“A recent study by researchers in University Hospital Galway (UHG) found that HHC was the second most common drug used by patients presenting with psychosis over a 21-month period.” 

Earlier this month, the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland said it “beggars belief” that products containing HHC were still available without restrictions in Ireland.