The European Commission said in a press release on Wednesday 31 August that it had proposed subjecting the psychoactive substance MDMB-CHMICA, a synthetic cannabinoid, to control measures following a risk assessment report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).
According to the report, the acute toxicity of MDMB-CHMICA can cause severe harm to the health of individuals. So far, eight member states have reported 28 deaths and 25 acute intoxications associated with this substance, the Commission says. Numerous reports have also indicated the possibility that its use causes violence and aggression.
The Commission goes on to say that it has also proposed an amendment to the founding regulation of the EMCDDA to allow for swifter and more effective EU action in the fight against new psychoactive substances. The proposal aims at further strengthening the EU early warning system and risk assessment on new psychoactive substances by streamlining and speeding up data collection and assessment procedure. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)