Psychiatrists Urge Tighter Controls on Psychoactive Substances Amid HHC Ban Failure
Psychiatrists are calling for tighter regulations on psychoactive substances, arguing that the ban on HHC-like products is failing. They report continued HHC-related psychosis cases and the emergence of new, similar substances. Experts recommend using the 2010 Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act to control these drugs effectively.
A group of psychiatrists has urged the Government to tighten regulations on psychoactive substances, stating that current measures against synthetic cannabis, specifically HHC-like products, are ineffective. Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) was classified as an illegal drug last summer under the Misuse of Drugs Act due to concerns about its link to psychosis and hospitalisation. This classification banned its import, export, production, possession, sale, and supply.
However, in a letter published in the Irish Times, psychiatrists from Dublin, Cork, and Galway reported that HHC-related presentations in psychiatric wards and psychosis clinics continue. They noted the ban has not stopped supply but led to new, similar, unnamed cannabinoids becoming readily available in shops and online. They advocate for these products to be covered by the 2010 Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act, a «catch-all» legislation previously successful in reducing psychiatric hospitalisations in Ireland. A 2025 study in Galway found HHC was the second most used drug by people presenting to hospital with psychosis over a 21-month period.