Pubdate: Sun, 07 Oct 2012 Source: Khaleej Times (UAE) Copyright: 2012 Khaleej Times Contact: http://khaleejtimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/996 UAE CALLS FOR PROHIBITION OF 'SPICE' DRUG The Ministry of Interior has recommended prohibiting the smuggling, possessing and trafficking of 'Spice Drugs' at the 26th Arab Convention of Heads of Anti Narcotics Authorities held in Tunisia on October 3 and 4. In a paper presented to showcase the experience of the UAE on Spice drugs, it was stated that the UAE has become the first Arab country to illegalise such drugs. Synthetic cannabis, locally known as spice, affects the mind like hashish does. A panel commissioned with studying Spice recommended to criminalise and prohibit it, including smuggling, possessing, using and trafficking. Possessing Spice has now become a punishable offense by the UAE law. The UAE delegation was led by Colonel Saeed Abdullah Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Federal Anti Narcotics Department of the Ministry of Interior. During the conference, the country's delegation passed a full report showing the local and international efforts exerted by the UAE to tackle narcotics. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt