POLICE READY TO POUNCE ON MUSIC FESTIVAL DRUGS

Police are expected to receive scientific advice on the legality of
herbal stimulants to be offered for sale at today's Big Day Out music
festival only hours before the event gets under way.

Wayville Showground stall-holders were warned yesterday that if herbal
versions of designer drugs were found to be illegal they would be seized.

Amid the public outcry over the availablity of the herbal stimulants,
it was revealed yesterday that an Adelaide man who sought a
controversial "herbal high" last year died after after drinking a
plant extract.

The State Coroner's office, confirmed that Mr Paul Herrit, 43, died
after he drank "tree tobacco".

"He brewed up leaves from the nicotiana glauca plant that grows as a
weed," said toxicologist, Mr Noel Sims, of the Adelaide Forensic
Science Centre.

"He was experimenting with the herbal high and allegedly told a
neighbour it was giving him a hallucinogenic effect, or some kind of
euphoria.

"But it show if you get the dose wrong, you can die ... and it also
shows it's a very dangerous practice to experiment with these forms of
herbal highs."

Law and health authorities yesterday repeated earlier warnings about
the culture of herbal experimentation.

The authorities were deluged with calls from alarmed parents after The
Advertiser reported herbal stimulants would be on sale at the festival.

A police spokesman said parents could be reassured the event would be
tightly policed.

"We've sought advice over the products and, if they are prohibited,
and if we find it is being sold, we will take the appropriate action,"
he said.

The head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration surveillance unit, Mr
Steve Howells, said sale of the products fell within the jurisdiction
of State health and law authorities.

"I have spoken with the police and I'm satisifed the festival will be
appropriately policed," Mr Howells said.