Pubdate: Thu, 28 Feb 2013
Source: Barrie Advance, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing
Contact: http://www.simcoe.com/generalform
Website: http://www.simcoe.com/community/barrie
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2192
Author: Janis Ramsay

ANOTHER SYNTHETIC DRUG ON THE MARKET

Izms, a new herbal drug doused in a chemical, may be available for
sale in Barrie.

Adam Wookey, chief executive officer of the Canadian company behind
Izms, fielded calls Wednesday after a Toronto Star story exposed the
product, which has been available in Canada for two years.

It's not at local head shops, but Wookey believed it was available in
Barrie convenience stores.

According to The Star, there have been reports of vomiting, seizures,
heart attacks and psychotic episodes after people consume the drug.

"The problem is people think, it's legal (so) it must not do anything.
Then they go do things like drink lots of alcohol or use a lot of (the
substance)," said Wookey.

He had been giving out samples to sellers, but said there likely won't
be any more sample packs for the synthetic drug after it hit the media.

Wookey said it's sold in flavours like Luau Love, Gin N'Juice,
Bomberry Blue and Boom Kron. Gin N'Juice is the lowest strength, with
Luau Love in the middle.

He said Izms are "quite well known" in other countries, and maintains
it's a legal product in Canada.

The herbal content is doused with an ingredient, JWH-018, which has a
different chemical structure than THC found in marijuana.

Health Canada says it is an illegal drug and subject to Schedule II of
the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) because its main
ingredients, synthetic cannabinoids, are "'similar synthetic
preparations" of cannabis."

He said Izms is only for adults and users should try a small amount
first: "one puff, then wait 10 minutes".

He didn't dispute there should be some regulations in place for his
product.

While Wookey isn't facing CDSA charges even though Health Canada
maintains the drug is illegal, he is facing charges under the Food and
Drugs Act for selling another product, called PurePillz, similar to
Ecstasy.

In 2006, he was convicted of drug trafficking after Toronto police
found cocaine, marijuana, guns and debt lists in his apartment.

- - with files from TorStar
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MAP posted-by: Matt