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A new report from the Institute for Security and Development Policy examines yhe growing consumption of Spice—a generic name for chemically produced synthetic cannabinoids.  Spice has been responsible for an increasing number of overdoses and even deaths in European countries. In Sweden alone, 2014 saw the occurrence of over 300 overdoses attributed to Spice. The fact that Spice is composed of largely non-illegal substances—and is therefore sold as “legal”—presents a major problem for policymakers and law enforcement authorities. At both the national and the European level, the efforts made by policymakers to stem the spread of Spice and to eliminate it from circulation have been insufficient. A more robust approach aimed at proscribing the drug and putting the onus

on manufacturers to prove the safety of Spice is therefore necessary.

The report is published by the Transnational Threat Initiative at the ISDP, by researchers Aïssata Maïga, Jeanette Lindberg & Walter Kegö.  Full PDF of the Policy Briefing can be downloaded here.  The authors put forward the case that stronger EU cooperation on the issue, more funding for research and prevention, while shifting the burden of proof of legality to the manufacturers of such drugs, are all essential if Spice is to be tackled effectively.