IT CAN be bought in eighths, smoked in spliffs and produces the
same effects as cannabis... and is completely legal.

Spice and other 'legal highs' are products that can be bought over
the counter and on the Internet. But drug support workers are urging
users to treat them with caution.

'It seems to be very popular in Guernsey at the moment,' said Mark
Sullivan, who works for the charity NCH.

'We're concerned because we're seeing young people using it and it
seems to be as potent as cannabis. But there is no way of telling what
long-term effects it will have.

'I suppose we feel the term "legal" is misleading people into thinking
these products are completely safe. The truth is, these products are
totally untested as far as we know.' Spice is one of a range of
products being used as a substitute for cannabis. It is part of a
global multi-million-pound industry that also produces legal herbal
pills, designed to simulate the effect of amphetamines, and herbal
hallucinogens. Its ingredients are a combination of plants and
extracts, including vanilla, marshmallow, rose and baybean, which is
known to have psychoactive qualities. 'Anything that impairs judgement
can't be doing any good,' said Mr Sullivan. Drug Concern manager
Tracey Rear agreed that any substance that altered the mindset should
be treated with caution. She had seen people who were under the
influence of such substances, but it was difficult to do anything
about it because of its legal status. She said that although it could
offer drug users a legal alternative, it could also encourage people
to experiment with illegal substances.

'I wonder if young people who start smoking it might move on to
smoking cannabis, which is certainly not something we'd want to
encourage.' Emma Ogier is the manager of Bits and Pieces, a local
store which stocks Spice and other similar products.

'It's herbal, and there are a lot worse things people could be doing,
or buying out there. We pay our taxes and it's better than that money
going to drug dealers.' The substance is sold strictly to over-18s
only and Miss Ogier said it should be treated no differently to alcohol.

'It's the same as drink: you've got to be careful and responsible with
how you use it.'