SURREY MLA CALLING FOR DODA BAN

A local MLA is calling for the prohibition of a drug readily available
at local retail outlets.

Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains wants an end to the sale of doda (also
known as dode), which is an opium deriviative sold in many local stores.

Bains said, while legal, the drug is highly addictive, and should be
taken from store shelves.

"My constituents are very concerned that this addictive and harmful
substance is readily available at retail stores," Bains said. "I have
written to the Solicitor General demanding a thorough review of our
laws to ensure that retailers don't sell this product openly."

One of the challenges is, each time doda is sent to Heath Canada for
testing, the opiate levels are next to non-existent, so the federal
organization cannot certify it as a prohibited drug.

That changed recently in a high-profile case in Toronto, where it's
alleged additives in doda there included codeine and morphine, which
are controlled substances under Canadian law.

Cpl. Richard Dejong, with the RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime Awareness
Service, said doda isn't a huge concern for police.

He noted the Toronto case has caused a media storm.

"There's a lot of hype about it, and a lot of it is for naught in some
respects," Dejong said.

"The poppy plant, obviously the end result is heroin," Dejong
said."Doda is taking the seed and crushing it down, and they'll put a
couple of tablespoons in water or alcohol and get some kind of
physiological response."

That response will vary depending on the user, but in general, "you're
going to be a little bit laid back, you're going to be sluggish,
watery eyes, red eyes," Dejong said. "Is it addictive? Probably from a
medicinal point of view."

Bains is concerned that retailers are openly selling this harmful
product and even minors can buy it at a cheap rate.